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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 120 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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. season — of the year
  6. saw — the tool
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. saw — the tool
  9. tube — a container
  10. content — happy
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. chip — to eat
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. content — the amount
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. current — electric
  21. tube — the underground
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. deal — to handle
  24. season — in sport

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