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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 120 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. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. clip — a video
  3. chip — for betting
  4. land — to come down
  5. lie — to recline
  6. land — a country
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. suit — to fit
  10. suit — in cards
  11. clip — for paper
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. current — happening now
  14. bound — tied together
  15. current — electric
  16. current — of water
  17. chip — to eat
  18. bound — obliged
  19. stand — to bear
  20. bound — certain
  21. suit — clothes
  22. clip — to cut
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. land — ground

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