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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 116 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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. rest — a break
  3. deal — to handle
  4. chip — for betting
  5. net — for catching
  6. rash — a series
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. rash — hasty
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. saw — the tool
  11. rest — what's left
  12. chip — to eat
  13. stem — to come from
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. net — in sport
  16. saw — the tool
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. net — after costs
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. rest — what's left

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