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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. pass — a permit
  5. chest — a box
  6. can — to be able to
  7. season — in sport
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rash — a series
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. chest — of your body
  14. season — of the year
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. can — a tin
  19. chip — to eat
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. chest — of your body
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. can — a tin
  24. rash — on the skin

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