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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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. bat — the animal
  7. chip — for betting
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. club — for dancing
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. club — a group
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. toast — bread
  16. club — for golf
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. chip — to eat
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. bat — for baseball
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. arm — part of the body

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