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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. bass — low music
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. pit — in a race
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. bound — obliged
  10. chip — to eat
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. bass — the fish
  14. pit — a hole
  15. bound — certain
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. plane — a tool
  23. perch — the fish
  24. deal — to handle

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