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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mark · mate · game · stem · chip · fan · bass · ruler

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. mark — a trace
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. mate — a friend
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. game — a match
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. bass — the fish
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. stem — to come from
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. mark — a grade
  18. chip — for betting
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. chip — to eat
  21. mate — a partner
  22. bass — low music
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. mate — to breed

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