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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. foot — a measure
  4. chip — for betting
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. club — for dancing
  9. pass — a permit
  10. chip — to eat
  11. current — happening now
  12. club — for golf
  13. club — a group
  14. vault — a safe
  15. current — of water
  16. current — electric
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. mouse — for a computer

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