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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. stand — to bear
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. deal — to handle
  6. stock — shares
  7. can — a tin
  8. chip — for betting
  9. plane — a tool
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lie — to recline
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. can — to be able to
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. ball — a great time
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. can — a tin
  21. ball — a dance
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. stock — goods

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