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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. snap — to click
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. chip — for betting
  7. season — in sport
  8. net — for catching
  9. game — wild animals
  10. net — in sport
  11. net — after costs
  12. season — of the year
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. chip — to eat
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. game — a match

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