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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. bound — tied together
  5. ball — a dance
  6. scale — in music
  7. chip — to eat
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. present — the time now
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. bound — certain
  13. present — a gift
  14. ball — a great time
  15. current — happening now
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. current — electric
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. present — there
  21. bound — obliged
  22. current — of water
  23. scale — size or range
  24. safe — out of danger

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