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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. chip — to eat
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. mug — a cup
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. toast — bread
  13. swing — in golf
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. swing — to play on
  18. sharp — clever
  19. mug — to rob
  20. chip — for betting
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. mug — a face
  23. kick — in football
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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