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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. chip — to eat
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. rock — a stone
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bass — the fish
  7. drill — a practice
  8. rock — music
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. fall — the season
  11. drill — army training
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. drill — the tool
  14. bass — low music
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. fall — to drop
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. chip — for betting
  22. pass — a permit
  23. plane — a tool
  24. fall — to drop

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