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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. plane — a tool
  3. can — a tin
  4. file — a tool
  5. file — a line of people
  6. foot — a measure
  7. hand — help
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. hand — in cards
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. can — a tin
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. board — to get on
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. can — to be able to
  19. chip — to eat
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. chip — for betting
  23. board — a committee
  24. file — a document

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