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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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. chip — to eat
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. fine — all right
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. lie — to recline
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. squash — the sport
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. chip — for betting
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. toast — bread
  17. squash — to crush
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. fine — high quality
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. toast — the most admired

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