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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: chip · branch · sharp · racket · foot · toast · fine · roll

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. chip — for betting
  6. chip — to eat
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. roll — a cake
  9. foot — a measure
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. branch — a division
  13. roll — a list
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. toast — bread
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fine — all right
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. sharp — clever
  24. toast — the most admired

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