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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. stock — shares
  4. prune — to trim
  5. cap — of ice
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. cap — a hat
  8. chip — to eat
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. prune — to trim
  12. stock — goods
  13. fine — all right
  14. wax — to grow
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. fine — high quality
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cap — a lid

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