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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. capital — a city
  3. face — to point toward
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. swing — in golf
  6. cue — a signal
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. swing — music
  11. face — to confront
  12. cue — for pool
  13. key — in music
  14. swing — to play on
  15. capital — money
  16. chip — for betting
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. cue — a hint
  20. key — the most important part
  21. chip — to eat
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. key — for a lock
  24. pass — to succeed

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