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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. key — for a lock
  3. chip — for betting
  4. key — the most important part
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. fine — all right
  7. can — a tin
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. key — in music
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. cap — a lid
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. cap — a hat
  14. chip — to eat
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. can — to be able to
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. can — a tin
  21. cap — of ice
  22. fine — high quality
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. branch — a division

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