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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. mark — a trace
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. bound — obliged
  6. date — the fruit
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. chip — for betting
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. chip — to eat
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. bound — certain
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bear — the animal
  17. scale — in music
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. scale — size or range
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a grade
  24. date — on the calendar

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