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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. chip — for betting
  4. pit — in a race
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. face — to confront
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. tube — a container
  11. row — to paddle
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. tube — the underground
  15. chip — to eat
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. face — part of the head
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. mug — a face
  20. pit — a hole
  21. mug — a cup
  22. mug — to rob
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. row — a line

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