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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 120 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: chip · temple · rash · ground · mouse · mine · leaves · pitcher

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. ground — the earth
  4. rash — a series
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. mine — for digging
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. chip — for betting
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. chip — to eat
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. ground — a position
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rash — hasty
  22. ground — crushed
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. pitcher — a jug

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