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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ball · pound · sharp · craft · rock · ruler · chip · board

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. chip — for betting
  5. pound — a weight
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ball — a dance
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. sharp — clever
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. board — to get on
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. ball — a great time
  15. rock — music
  16. craft — boats
  17. board — a committee
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. craft — a skill
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. chip — to eat
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. rock — a stone

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com