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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. chip — to eat
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. club — for dancing
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. board — a committee
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. board — to get on
  14. spell — magic
  15. chip — for betting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. club — for golf
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. club — a group
  22. spell — letters
  23. spell — a short time
  24. nail — for a hammer

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