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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. date — the fruit
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. race — a contest
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. chip — to eat
  7. shower — to wash
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. object — a thing
  12. chip — for betting
  13. drill — the tool
  14. drill — army training
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. race — humankind
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. drill — a practice
  20. shower — rain
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. race — the arms race
  23. object — an aim
  24. object — to protest

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