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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. object — a thing
  6. chip — for betting
  7. bore — to drill
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. bear — the animal
  10. game — a match
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. hand — help
  14. bore — to tire
  15. hand — in cards
  16. game — wild animals
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. bear — the animal
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. fine — all right
  21. chip — to eat
  22. object — an aim
  23. fine — high quality
  24. object — to protest

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