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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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. chip — to eat
  3. club — for golf
  4. suit — clothes
  5. chip — for betting
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. staff — employees
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. suit — to fit
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. staff — employees
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. suit — in cards
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. club — for dancing
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. foot — a measure
  21. staff — a stick
  22. dip — to sink
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. club — a group

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