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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. wake — a trail
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. present — a gift
  7. present — the time now
  8. lean — thin
  9. net — after costs
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. mate — a partner
  12. net — for catching
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. lean — to bend
  15. mark — a grade
  16. mate — to breed
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. mate — a friend
  19. present — there
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. net — in sport
  22. chip — to eat
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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