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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 116 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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  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. pass — to succeed
  3. pass — a permit
  4. bound — certain
  5. bound — obliged
  6. game — wild animals
  7. chip — to eat
  8. game — a match
  9. suit — to fit
  10. pop — music
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. track — to keep track
  14. track — a path
  15. suit — clothes
  16. bound — tied together
  17. suit — in cards
  18. pop — soda
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pop — to visit
  23. track — a song
  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