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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. rush — hurry
  7. face — part of the head
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. content — the amount
  10. chip — for betting
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. chip — to eat
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. face — to confront
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. content — happy
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. face — to point toward
  23. plane — a tool
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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