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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. can — to be able to
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — the tool
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. key — for a lock
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. key — in music
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. scale — in music
  17. can — a tin
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. scale — size or range
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. chip — to eat
  22. can — a tin
  23. key — the most important part
  24. chip — for betting

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