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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. roll — a list
  3. ground — the earth
  4. ground — crushed
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. ground — a position
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. plane — a tool
  9. chip — for betting
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. board — to get on
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. foot — a measure
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. board — a committee
  19. chip — to eat
  20. roll — a cake
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — in the ear

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