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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. prune — to trim
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. charge — electricity
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — in music
  8. toast — bread
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. content — happy
  11. chip — for betting
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. pass — a permit
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. key — for a lock
  17. prune — to trim
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. charge — a price
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. charge — in control
  23. content — the amount
  24. safe — a strongbox

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