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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. stem — to come from
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. staff — a stick
  5. chip — to eat
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. press — a publisher
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. press — to push
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. press — newspapers
  15. staff — employees
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bear — the animal
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. chip — for betting

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