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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. ground — the earth
  4. court — of a king
  5. key — the most important part
  6. sharp — clever
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mark — a grade
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. court — of law
  13. key — in music
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. court — for sport
  16. prune — to trim
  17. ground — a position
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. ground — crushed
  21. prune — to trim
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. key — for a lock
  24. chip — to eat

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