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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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. fine — high quality
  3. chip — for betting
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. chip — to eat
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. pitch — completely
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — all right
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. rock — a stone
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. band — a ring
  18. rock — music
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. wake — a trail
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. leaves — of a tree

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