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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. chip — to eat
  5. march — the month
  6. lie — to recline
  7. chip — for betting
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. scale — size or range
  10. toast — bread
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. bulb — for light
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. march — the month
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. march — music
  21. scale — in music
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

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