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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: chip · ruler · patient · nail · arm · fan · pop · bear

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. chip — to eat
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. bear — the animal
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. pop — to visit
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. bear — the animal
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. pop — soda
  20. chip — for betting
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. pop — music

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