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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: chip · mark · clip · mouse · mate · toast · rash · ruler

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. rash — a series
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. clip — to cut
  5. mark — a grade
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. mate — a partner
  8. mate — a friend
  9. toast — bread
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. chip — to eat
  12. rash — hasty
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mark — a trace
  19. clip — for paper
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. clip — a video
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. ruler — for measuring

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