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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. chip — for betting
  4. current — happening now
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. file — a document
  7. file — a tool
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. current — electric
  10. chip — to eat
  11. stand — to bear
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. current — of water
  15. can — to be able to
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. perch — the fish
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. file — a line of people
  24. stand — for spectators

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