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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 120 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 museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. file — a document
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. scale — size or range
  5. chip — for betting
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. file — a line of people
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. ball — a great time
  12. chip — to eat
  13. pass — a permit
  14. wax — to grow
  15. file — a tool
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. ball — a dance
  21. scale — in music
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. pitcher — a jug

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