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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. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. field — a subject
  3. field — farmland
  4. chip — to eat
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. pit — a hole
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. field — for sport
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. cue — a signal
  16. snap — to click
  17. cue — a hint
  18. can — to be able to
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. cue — for pool
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. plane — a tool
  24. pit — in a race

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