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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. chip — for betting
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. saw — the tool
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. saw — the tool
  8. rock — a stone
  9. chip — to eat
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. present — there
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. rock — music
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. season — in sport
  16. mark — a grade
  17. mark — a trace
  18. present — a gift
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. present — the time now
  21. season — of the year
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. wake — a trail
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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