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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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. firm — steady
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. mark — a grade
  5. firm — decided
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. firm — a company
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. chip — to eat
  10. shower — to wash
  11. mark — a trace
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. bear — the animal
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. shower — rain
  16. bear — the animal
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bore — to drill
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. chip — for betting
  24. bore — to tire

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