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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mug — to rob
  4. rock — a stone
  5. chip — for betting
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. chip — to eat
  9. net — after costs
  10. court — of a king
  11. court — for sport
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. net — for catching
  14. net — in sport
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. mine — for digging
  21. mug — a face
  22. court — of law
  23. rock — music
  24. safe — out of danger

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