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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. ground — the earth
  6. ground — a position
  7. pitch — completely
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. band — a ring
  12. press — newspapers
  13. chip — for betting
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. chip — to eat
  16. band — a music group
  17. fork — in a road
  18. ground — crushed
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. lie — to recline
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. press — to push
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. press — a publisher

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