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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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. root — of a word
  3. staff — employees
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. rock — music
  6. root — the cause
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. staff — a stick
  10. staff — employees
  11. chip — to eat
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. firm — a company
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. root — of a plant
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. firm — steady
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. firm — decided
  23. rock — a stone
  24. chip — in a computer

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