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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. chip — for betting
  3. current — electric
  4. craft — boats
  5. current — of water
  6. mug — a face
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. spell — magic
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. deal — to handle
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. craft — a skill
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mug — a cup
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. current — happening now
  21. chip — to eat
  22. spell — a short time
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. spell — letters

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