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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 116 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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. staff — a stick
  6. net — after costs
  7. chip — to eat
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. current — of water
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. current — electric
  12. net — in sport
  13. net — for catching
  14. current — happening now
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. chip — for betting
  17. staff — employees
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. hand — in cards
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. hand — help
  23. staff — employees
  24. hand — part of the body

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