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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. current — of water
  3. saw — the tool
  4. current — electric
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. stem — to come from
  8. season — of the year
  9. saw — the tool
  10. plane — a tool
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. chip — to eat
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. chip — for betting
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. current — happening now
  18. season — in sport
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. kick — in football
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. stem — of a plant

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