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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. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. pound — to hit hard
  2. scale — in music
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. chip — for betting
  5. foot — a measure
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. charge — electricity
  9. pound — a weight
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. charge — a price
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. rock — a stone
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. rock — music
  20. charge — in control
  21. scale — size or range
  22. chip — to eat
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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