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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. staff — employees
  3. mark — a trace
  4. staff — a stick
  5. can — a tin
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. row — to paddle
  8. can — a tin
  9. mark — a grade
  10. chip — to eat
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. chip — for betting
  15. board — to get on
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. staff — employees
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. row — a line
  21. board — a committee
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. bowl — a dish

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