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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. suit — clothes
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. object — an aim
  6. hand — in cards
  7. spell — letters
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. mug — to rob
  10. chip — to eat
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hand — help
  13. object — to protest
  14. suit — in cards
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. mug — a face
  19. object — a thing
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. chip — for betting
  22. suit — to fit
  23. spell — a short time
  24. spell — magic

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