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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 · cabinet · saw · sharp · toast · perch · fork · bore

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. chip — for betting
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. toast — bread
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. saw — the tool
  8. perch — the fish
  9. fork — in a road
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. bore — to tire
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. saw — the tool
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. chip — to eat
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bore — to drill

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