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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. prune — to trim
  4. can — to be able to
  5. chip — to eat
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. board — a committee
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. chip — for betting
  11. toast — bread
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. can — a tin
  16. key — in music
  17. deal — to handle
  18. key — for a lock
  19. can — a tin
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. key — the most important part
  22. board — to get on
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. deal — a big deal

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