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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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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: ruler · bore · racket · chip · foot · face · object · toast

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  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. chip — for betting
  2. bore — to tire
  3. object — an aim
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. face — part of the head
  7. face — to confront
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. object — to protest
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. foot — a measure
  17. face — to point toward
  18. bore — to drill
  19. toast — bread
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. object — a thing
  23. ruler — for measuring
  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