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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. chip — for betting
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. cue — a signal
  8. dip — to sink
  9. rash — hasty
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. spell — letters
  12. rash — a series
  13. spell — magic
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cue — for pool
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. spell — a short time
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. cue — a hint
  24. fan — to cool the air

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