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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. suit — in cards
  4. pop — to visit
  5. pop — music
  6. rest — what's left
  7. chip — to eat
  8. file — a line of people
  9. lie — to recline
  10. spring — a coil
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. file — a document
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. rest — a break
  15. spring — of water
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. suit — clothes
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pop — soda
  21. spring — the season
  22. file — a tool
  23. rest — what's left
  24. suit — to fit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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