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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. chip — for betting
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. bulb — for light
  6. date — the fruit
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. current — electric
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. chip — to eat
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. deal — to handle
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. current — of water
  21. current — happening now
  22. toast — bread
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. bulb — for light

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