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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. fine — all right
  3. fine — high quality
  4. rash — hasty
  5. chip — for betting
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. rash — a series
  8. drill — a practice
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. snap — to click
  12. drill — army training
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. fork — in a road
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mate — a friend
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. mate — to breed
  20. chip — to eat
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. mate — a partner

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