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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: roll · jam · rule · bore · mark · chip · pitch · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. can — a tin
  3. bore — to tire
  4. can — a tin
  5. bore — to drill
  6. mark — a grade
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. roll — a cake
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. rule — government
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. pitch — completely
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. roll — a list
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. chip — to eat
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. rule — a law
  24. chip — for betting

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