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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 120 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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. chip — to eat
  3. can — a tin
  4. chip — for betting
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. cue — a signal
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. cue — a hint
  17. can — a tin
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. track — to keep track
  20. can — to be able to
  21. cue — for pool
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. track — a path
  24. dip — to sink

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