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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. chip — to eat
  5. key — in music
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. wax — to grow
  8. key — the most important part
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. squash — to crush
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. mate — to breed
  14. scale — in music
  15. mate — a friend
  16. scale — size or range
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. key — for a lock
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. deal — to handle
  23. squash — the sport
  24. mate — a partner

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