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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. chip — for betting
  3. bat — the animal
  4. bound — tied together
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. chip — to eat
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. track — a song
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. board — to get on
  13. cue — for pool
  14. bound — obliged
  15. board — a committee
  16. track — a path
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bound — certain
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cue — a signal

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