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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 ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. chip — to eat
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. cap — a lid
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. spring — of water
  10. key — in music
  11. spring — a coil
  12. stock — shares
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wound — an injury
  15. stock — goods
  16. key — the most important part
  17. spring — the season
  18. cap — a hat
  19. fine — all right
  20. key — for a lock
  21. cap — of ice
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. fine — high quality
  24. mouse — the animal

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