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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. mate — to breed
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. mark — a grade
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. mate — a friend
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. scale — size or range
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. mark — a trace
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. hand — help
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mate — a partner
  19. scale — in music
  20. hand — in cards
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. chip — to eat
  23. chip — for betting
  24. calf — of the leg

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