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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. last — finally
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. chip — to eat
  7. bulb — for light
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bulb — for light
  10. last — final
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. ball — a dance
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. last — to go on
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. ball — a great time
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. chip — for betting
  24. snap — to click

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