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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. cap — a lid
  3. lie — to recline
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. can — to be able to
  6. press — a publisher
  7. cap — a hat
  8. cue — a signal
  9. can — a tin
  10. cue — a hint
  11. chip — for betting
  12. current — happening now
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. press — to push
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. cap — of ice
  18. press — newspapers
  19. can — a tin
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. cue — for pool
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. current — of water
  24. current — electric

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