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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. suit — to fit
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a face
  6. suit — in cards
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. bore — to tire
  9. saw — the tool
  10. deal — to handle
  11. chip — to eat
  12. spring — of water
  13. saw — the tool
  14. scale — in music
  15. mug — a cup
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. scale — size or range
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. spring — the season
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. chip — for betting
  22. spring — a coil
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bore — to drill

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