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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. key — in music
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. bass — the fish
  6. present — there
  7. toast — bread
  8. bass — low music
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wound — an injury
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. key — for a lock
  13. root — the cause
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. present — the time now
  16. present — a gift
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. root — of a plant
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. key — the most important part
  21. root — of a word
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. chip — to eat

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