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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. court — of a king
  4. suit — to fit
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. suit — clothes
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. court — for sport
  9. club — for golf
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. suit — in cards
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. row — to paddle
  14. lie — to recline
  15. court — of law
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. club — a group
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. club — for dancing
  21. chip — to eat
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. row — a line

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