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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. mark — a trace
  4. current — happening now
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. row — to paddle
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. current — of water
  9. season — in sport
  10. swing — in golf
  11. season — of the year
  12. row — a line
  13. current — electric
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. mark — a grade
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. date — the fruit
  19. swing — to play on
  20. chip — to eat
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. swing — music

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