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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. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pound — a weight
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. chip — for betting
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. pass — a permit
  11. chip — to eat
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. chair — a leader
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. ball — a great time
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. fine — all right
  21. fine — high quality
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. ball — a dance

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