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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. wound — an injury
  3. drill — army training
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. chip — to eat
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. sharp — clever
  9. current — electric
  10. wound — an injury
  11. drill — a practice
  12. current — happening now
  13. drill — the tool
  14. current — of water
  15. staff — a stick
  16. pass — a permit
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. staff — employees
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. staff — employees
  24. pass — to succeed

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