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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. chip — for betting
  3. rock — music
  4. drill — army training
  5. track — a song
  6. chip — to eat
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. staff — employees
  9. track — to keep track
  10. drill — the tool
  11. track — a path
  12. staff — employees
  13. rock — a stone
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — hurry
  18. drill — a practice
  19. staff — a stick
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. toast — bread

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