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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: bay · lean · game · charge · roll · sharp · lie · chip

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. lean — to bend
  5. charge — electricity
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. charge — in control
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. roll — a list
  13. roll — a cake
  14. game — wild animals
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. lie — to recline
  20. chip — for betting
  21. lean — thin
  22. game — a match
  23. chip — to eat
  24. charge — a price

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