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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. rest — a break
  3. track — a path
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. bulb — for light
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bulb — for light
  8. track — a song
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. tube — the underground
  12. rest — what's left
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. chip — for betting
  15. tube — a container
  16. rest — what's left
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. track — to keep track
  21. stem — to come from
  22. plane — a tool
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. can — a tin

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