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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bear — the animal
  3. chip — for betting
  4. bulb — for light
  5. file — a line of people
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pop — music
  9. charge — in control
  10. suit — to fit
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. file — a tool
  13. chip — to eat
  14. charge — electricity
  15. game — wild animals
  16. game — a match
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pop — soda
  19. file — a document
  20. suit — in cards
  21. bear — the animal
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. charge — a price

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