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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. bulb — for light
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. hand — in cards
  11. hand — help
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. season — of the year
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. pass — a permit
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bulb — for light
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. chip — to eat
  24. chip — for betting

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