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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 116 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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. current — of water
  3. chip — to eat
  4. spell — a short time
  5. spell — magic
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. chip — for betting
  8. bear — the animal
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. game — a match
  11. current — electric
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. bulb — for light
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. spell — letters
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bear — the animal
  21. current — happening now
  22. game — wild animals
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bear — to put up with

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