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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. fork — in a road
  3. chip — to eat
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. kid — to tease
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mark — a grade
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. current — electric
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — of water
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. kid — child
  18. rush — hurry
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. chip — for betting
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fork — to eat with

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