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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bound — tied together
  4. chip — to eat
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. mate — a friend
  9. ground — crushed
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. can — to be able to
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. bound — obliged
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mate — to breed
  17. mate — a partner
  18. can — a tin
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. ground — the earth
  21. bound — certain
  22. ground — a position
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. can — a tin

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