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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bass — low music
  4. chip — for betting
  5. chip — to eat
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. mark — a trace
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. saw — the tool
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bass — the fish
  15. can — a tin
  16. pass — a permit
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. can — a tin
  24. mine — for digging

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