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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: mine · chip · bound · ground · firm · fine · face · bulb

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. firm — a company
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bound — tied together
  5. ground — crushed
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. face — part of the head
  8. fine — all right
  9. face — to point toward
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. ground — a position
  12. bound — certain
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. bound — obliged
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. mine — for digging
  17. firm — steady
  18. bulb — for light
  19. chip — to eat
  20. fine — high quality
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. ground — the earth
  23. face — to confront
  24. firm — decided

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