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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. saw — the tool
  3. mug — to rob
  4. chip — to eat
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mug — a face
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. mug — a cup
  9. fine — all right
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. present — there
  12. ball — a dance
  13. spell — magic
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. ball — a great time
  16. fine — high quality
  17. spell — letters
  18. present — the time now
  19. saw — the tool
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — for betting
  24. spell — a short time

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