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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. scale — size or range
  4. bore — to tire
  5. squash — to crush
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. cue — for pool
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. cap — a hat
  10. cue — a signal
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. toast — bread
  13. chip — for betting
  14. cap — of ice
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cap — a lid
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. scale — in music
  21. squash — the sport
  22. bore — to drill
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. squash — the vegetable

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