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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  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. mate — a friend
  2. mate — to breed
  3. chip — to eat
  4. object — an aim
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. mug — a cup
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mate — a partner
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. mug — a face
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bulb — for light
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. object — to protest
  19. bulb — for light
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mug — to rob
  22. object — a thing
  23. leaves — lets stay
  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