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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. staff — employees
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. prune — to trim
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. cue — for pool
  8. cue — a signal
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. object — a thing
  11. chip — to eat
  12. staff — employees
  13. current — of water
  14. current — happening now
  15. cue — a hint
  16. object — an aim
  17. object — to protest
  18. current — electric
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. staff — a stick
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. prune — to trim
  24. chip — for betting

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