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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. deal — to handle
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. rest — what's left
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. rest — a break
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. board — a committee
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. chip — for betting
  12. kid — to tease
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. rest — what's left
  15. chip — to eat
  16. land — to come down
  17. kid — child
  18. land — ground
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. fine — high quality
  21. fine — all right
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. board — to get on
  24. land — a country

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