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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rash — a series
  3. pop — to visit
  4. rush — hurry
  5. chip — to eat
  6. chip — for betting
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. rock — music
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. pop — soda
  19. rash — hasty
  20. current — happening now
  21. sharp — clever
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. pop — 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