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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. rule — government
  3. current — happening now
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. current — electric
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. chip — for betting
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. current — of water
  11. mate — to breed
  12. firm — a company
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. rush — hurry
  16. mate — a friend
  17. rule — a law
  18. firm — steady
  19. mate — a partner
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. firm — decided
  24. chip — to eat

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