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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stand · snap · chip · mug · racket · track · chair · toast

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. track — a song
  3. chip — for betting
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. track — to keep track
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. chair — a leader
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. mug — a cup
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. toast — bread
  18. stand — to bear
  19. chip — to eat
  20. mug — a face
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. track — a path
  23. mug — to rob
  24. snap — to click

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