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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. key — for a lock
  4. can — a tin
  5. mate — a partner
  6. deal — to handle
  7. net — for catching
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. key — the most important part
  10. can — a tin
  11. chip — to eat
  12. sharp — clever
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. key — in music
  15. board — a committee
  16. net — after costs
  17. can — to be able to
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. mate — to breed
  20. chip — for betting
  21. board — to get on
  22. net — in sport
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. mate — a friend

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