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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. ball — a great time
  3. mug — to rob
  4. tube — a container
  5. court — of a king
  6. ground — a position
  7. tube — the underground
  8. mark — a grade
  9. ground — the earth
  10. court — for sport
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. ground — crushed
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. chip — to eat
  18. fine — high quality
  19. chip — for betting
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. mug — a face
  22. mug — a cup
  23. court — of law
  24. fine — all right

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