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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. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. can — to be able to
  4. roll — a cake
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. net — after costs
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. roll — a list
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. suit — clothes
  16. suit — in cards
  17. net — in sport
  18. net — for catching
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. suit — to fit
  23. chip — to eat
  24. ruler — a monarch

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