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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: wave · mug · mine · kick · rock · bay · chip · ball

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. rock — music
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. ball — a great time
  10. chip — to eat
  11. mug — a cup
  12. rock — a stone
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. ball — a dance
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. mug — a face
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. kick — in football
  20. mug — to rob
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. mine — for digging
  24. kick — a thrill

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