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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 120 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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. ground — crushed
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. ground — a position
  5. deal — to handle
  6. craft — boats
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. craft — a skill
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. ground — the earth
  12. saw — the tool
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. spring — of water
  16. chip — to eat
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. spring — the season
  22. saw — the tool
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. spring — a coil

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