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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: dip · leaves · deal · chip · press · mark · cap · hand

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cap — a hat
  7. press — newspapers
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. chip — for betting
  10. mark — a trace
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. press — a publisher
  14. chip — to eat
  15. hand — in cards
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. dip — to sink
  19. hand — help
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. press — to push
  22. deal — to handle
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. cap — of ice

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