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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. bound — tied together
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bound — obliged
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. fall — to drop
  12. fall — to drop
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. roll — a cake
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. roll — a list
  17. bound — certain
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. toast — bread
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. fall — the season
  22. dip — to sink
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. chip — to eat

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