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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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. cue — for pool
  3. chip — for betting
  4. rock — a stone
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pop — soda
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. chip — to eat
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. charge — electricity
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. charge — in control
  16. cue — a signal
  17. rock — music
  18. pop — music
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. cue — a hint
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. perch — the fish
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mark — a trace

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