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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. pitch — completely
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. key — in music
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. degree — from a university
  9. key — the most important part
  10. fine — high quality
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. key — for a lock
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. chip — to eat
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. chip — for betting
  20. degree — temperature
  21. fine — all right
  22. degree — an amount
  23. toast — bread
  24. fan — to cool the air

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