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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. key — the most important part
  3. deal — to handle
  4. branch — a division
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. chip — for betting
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. key — for a lock
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. can — a tin
  20. key — in music
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. can — a tin
  24. deal — a big deal

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