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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. file — a document
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. drill — the tool
  5. lie — to recline
  6. chip — to eat
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. content — happy
  10. drill — army training
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. file — a tool
  13. fine — all right
  14. drill — a practice
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. file — a line of people
  17. face — part of the head
  18. face — to point toward
  19. fine — high quality
  20. content — the amount
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — for light
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. face — to confront

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