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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. chip — to eat
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. bound — certain
  6. bound — tied together
  7. mug — a face
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. content — the amount
  11. mug — a cup
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bound — obliged
  15. content — happy
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. rock — music
  18. rush — hurry
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. lean — thin
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. rock — a stone
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. lean — to bend

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