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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. press — a publisher
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. land — a country
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. press — newspapers
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. game — wild animals
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. bark — to shout
  13. land — to come down
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. press — to push
  16. game — a match
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. chip — for betting
  20. land — ground
  21. vault — a safe
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. dip — to sink

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