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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. chip — to eat
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. suit — to fit
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. suit — clothes
  8. spring — of water
  9. key — the most important part
  10. spring — the season
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. mark — a trace
  13. chip — for betting
  14. rock — music
  15. spring — a coil
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. plane — a tool
  18. mark — a grade
  19. suit — in cards
  20. key — for a lock
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. rock — a stone
  24. key — in music

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