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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. can — a tin
  4. press — a publisher
  5. stand — to bear
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. ground — crushed
  8. stock — shares
  9. ground — the earth
  10. mark — a trace
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. press — newspapers
  14. stock — goods
  15. chip — to eat
  16. can — a tin
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. mark — a grade
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. ground — a position
  22. can — to be able to
  23. chip — for betting
  24. press — to push

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