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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. fall — the season
  3. fall — to drop
  4. mark — a grade
  5. ground — a position
  6. current — of water
  7. mark — a trace
  8. can — a tin
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. ground — crushed
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. fall — to drop
  14. ground — the earth
  15. chip — to eat
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. current — happening now
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rest — what's left
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. rest — a break
  23. rest — what's left
  24. current — electric

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