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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. rock — music
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. fine — high quality
  21. fine — all right
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. chip — for betting
  24. rock — a stone

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