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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  24. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. chip — for betting
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. board — a committee
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. pass — a permit
  7. fine — all right
  8. capital — a city
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. suit — in cards
  11. chest — of your body
  12. suit — to fit
  13. capital — money
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. suit — clothes
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. board — to get on
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. chip — to eat
  22. fine — high quality
  23. chest — a box
  24. chest — of your body

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