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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. court — for sport
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. fine — all right
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. court — of a king
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. current — happening now
  10. lie — to recline
  11. track — a song
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. current — electric
  15. track — to keep track
  16. court — of law
  17. current — of water
  18. chip — to eat
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. chip — for betting
  22. track — a path
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. lie — an untruth

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