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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: can · chip · pop · degree · key · bear · fine · ruler

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. chip — to eat
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bear — the animal
  5. chip — for betting
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. pop — to visit
  8. degree — temperature
  9. fine — all right
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. pop — soda
  12. degree — from a university
  13. key — for a lock
  14. fine — high quality
  15. key — the most important part
  16. can — a tin
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. key — in music
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. can — a tin
  23. degree — an amount
  24. pop — music

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