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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. key — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. cue — a signal
  6. ground — the earth
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. cue — for pool
  11. key — the most important part
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ground — crushed
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. lean — to bend
  16. tube — the underground
  17. cue — a hint
  18. chip — to eat
  19. tube — a container
  20. ground — a position
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. lean — thin
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. hide — to keep secret

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