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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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. file — a document
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stem — to come from
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. track — to keep track
  11. track — a path
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. track — a song
  14. file — a line of people
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. file — a tool
  17. pit — a hole
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. wake — a trail
  22. pit — in a race
  23. chip — to eat
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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