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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. chip — to eat
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. current — of water
  5. bound — certain
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. pit — a hole
  8. rock — a stone
  9. current — electric
  10. pit — in a race
  11. can — a tin
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. chip — for betting
  14. can — to be able to
  15. deal — to handle
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bound — obliged
  19. current — happening now
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rock — music
  22. bound — tied together
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. can — a tin

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