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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. key — the most important part
  3. tube — the underground
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. swing — to play on
  6. key — in music
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. cue — for pool
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. tube — a container
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. cue — a hint
  13. swing — music
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. cue — a signal
  16. chip — to eat
  17. stock — shares
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. chip — for betting
  20. stock — goods
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. key — for a lock
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. vault — a safe

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