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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  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. fine — high quality
  2. toast — bread
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. fine — all right
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. chip — for betting
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. rash — a series
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. chip — to eat
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. rash — hasty
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  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