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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: staff · hide · fan · chip · bank · roll · rest · charge

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. charge — electricity
  3. roll — a list
  4. staff — employees
  5. chip — for betting
  6. staff — employees
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. roll — a cake
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. charge — a price
  11. bank — for money
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. rest — a break
  17. bank — for money
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. rest — what's left
  20. staff — a stick
  21. charge — in control
  22. rest — what's left
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. chip — to eat

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