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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bark — to shout
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. season — of the year
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. current — electric
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. current — happening now
  15. season — in sport
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. current — of water
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. chip — to eat
  24. jam — in traffic

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