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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 116 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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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. fine — high quality
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. ball — a great time
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. land — to come down
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. fine — all right
  11. land — ground
  12. stem — to come from
  13. land — a country
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. ball — a dance
  24. trunk — of a car

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