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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: board · plane · bank · press · cell · chip · can · pitch

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. pitch — completely
  3. board — a committee
  4. cell — in biology
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. press — to push
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. bank — of a river
  9. chip — for betting
  10. board — to get on
  11. cell — a phone
  12. press — newspapers
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — a tool
  15. can — a tin
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. can — a tin
  19. press — a publisher
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. bank — for money
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. bank — for money
  24. can — to be able to

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