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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: fine · coach · dip · pop · bound · foot · chip · racket

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. chip — for betting
  5. foot — a measure
  6. bound — obliged
  7. pop — to visit
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. chip — to eat
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. pop — music
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. bound — tied together
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. bound — certain
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. fine — all right
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. pop — soda
  24. foot — the bottom

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