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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. foot — a measure
  3. chip — to eat
  4. chip — for betting
  5. pitch — completely
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. can — a tin
  9. hand — in cards
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. hand — help
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. can — to be able to
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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