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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 120 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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. can — a tin
  3. cue — a hint
  4. hand — in cards
  5. pop — to visit
  6. branch — a division
  7. march — the month
  8. chip — for betting
  9. mug — a face
  10. march — the month
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. cue — a signal
  13. mug — to rob
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pop — soda
  16. mug — a cup
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. hand — help
  19. cue — for pool
  20. march — music
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — to eat
  24. pop — music

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