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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. sharp — clever
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. firm — steady
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. chip — for betting
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. rash — hasty
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. bulb — for light
  14. lean — to bend
  15. bulb — for light
  16. chip — to eat
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. firm — decided
  20. rash — a series
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. firm — a company

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