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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. rock — a stone
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. can — a tin
  6. wound — an injury
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. chip — for betting
  9. can — to be able to
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. wound — an injury
  14. saw — the tool
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. saw — the tool
  18. chip — to eat
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. rock — music

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