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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. chip — to eat
  4. squash — to crush
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. wax — to grow
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. dip — to sink
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. chip — for betting
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. squash — the sport
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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