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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 116 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. chip — to eat
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. tube — the underground
  6. rush — hurry
  7. chip — for betting
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. club — for golf
  10. court — for sport
  11. rock — a stone
  12. wax — to grow
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. court — of a king
  16. tube — a container
  17. court — of law
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. rock — music
  20. stand — to bear
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. club — for dancing
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. club — a group

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