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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: mark · chip · clip · bulb · nail · cue · face · bank

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. mark — a trace
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. chip — for betting
  5. bank — of a river
  6. mark — a grade
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. cue — a hint
  9. bulb — for light
  10. clip — for paper
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. cue — for pool
  14. clip — to cut
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. cue — a signal
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. clip — a video
  19. chip — to eat
  20. face — to confront
  21. bank — for money
  22. face — to point toward
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bank — for money

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