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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 116 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 potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. tube — the underground
  4. pass — a permit
  5. can — a tin
  6. tube — a container
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. rash — hasty
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. can — to be able to
  12. chip — for betting
  13. can — a tin
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. rash — a series
  24. tube — in a tire

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