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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pop — music
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. pop — soda
  8. court — of a king
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. chip — for betting
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pop — to visit
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. fine — all right
  19. court — for sport
  20. fine — high quality
  21. wake — a trail
  22. court — of law
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. foot — a measure

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