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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. chip — to eat
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. rest — what's left
  5. track — to keep track
  6. can — to be able to
  7. track — a song
  8. row — a line
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. chip — for betting
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. rest — a break
  13. track — a path
  14. can — a tin
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. pass — a permit
  17. squash — to crush
  18. row — to paddle
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. squash — the sport
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. can — a tin

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