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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. pop — music
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. can — to be able to
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bulb — for light
  7. chip — to eat
  8. rest — what's left
  9. rock — music
  10. pop — to visit
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. rock — a stone
  13. pop — soda
  14. chip — for betting
  15. ground — crushed
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rest — a break
  18. can — a tin
  19. ground — a position
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rest — what's left
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — a place of worship

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