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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 116 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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. firm — steady
  4. chip — for betting
  5. firm — decided
  6. can — a tin
  7. chip — to eat
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. can — to be able to
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. board — to get on
  15. pass — a permit
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. can — a tin
  20. plane — a tool
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. board — a committee
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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