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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 120 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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. chip — to eat
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. band — a ring
  12. lean — to bend
  13. season — of the year
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. chip — for betting
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. band — a music group
  19. season — in sport
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. foot — a measure
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. key — the most important part
  24. lean — thin

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