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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. lie — to recline
  4. face — to point toward
  5. net — in sport
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. face — part of the head
  9. face — to confront
  10. fine — high quality
  11. fine — all right
  12. chip — to eat
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. staff — employees
  15. net — after costs
  16. bulb — for light
  17. staff — employees
  18. bulb — for light
  19. net — for catching
  20. hand — help
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. staff — a stick
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. hand — in cards

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