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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. drill — the tool
  4. chip — to eat
  5. drill — army training
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. toast — bread
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bear — the animal
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bear — the animal
  19. cue — a hint
  20. drill — a practice
  21. branch — a division
  22. cue — for pool
  23. stand — to bear
  24. cue — a signal

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