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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. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. chip — for betting
  4. staff — employees
  5. charge — a price
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. charge — electricity
  8. staff — a stick
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mark — a trace
  13. staff — employees
  14. tube — the underground
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. board — to get on
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. charge — in control
  20. tube — a container
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. chip — to eat
  23. board — a committee
  24. bowl — a football final

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