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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. march — the month
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. march — the month
  6. can — a tin
  7. staff — employees
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. saw — the tool
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. can — to be able to
  12. season — in sport
  13. cue — a hint
  14. staff — a stick
  15. cue — a signal
  16. season — of the year
  17. cue — for pool
  18. sharp — clever
  19. chip — to eat
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. staff — employees
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. can — a tin
  24. march — music

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