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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. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. kid — child
  4. pass — a permit
  5. suit — clothes
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. mark — a grade
  9. lean — to bend
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cue — a signal
  14. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. suit — to fit
  18. suit — in cards
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. chip — to eat
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cue — a hint
  23. lean — thin
  24. chip — for betting

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