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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. tube — a container
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. scale — in music
  7. fine — all right
  8. key — the most important part
  9. key — in music
  10. fine — high quality
  11. pop — soda
  12. current — of water
  13. tube — the underground
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. current — happening now
  17. scale — size or range
  18. pop — music
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. current — electric
  21. pop — to visit
  22. key — for a lock
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. chip — for betting

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