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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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: season · arm · rush · key · rock · snap · bulb · chip

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. rock — music
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. season — in sport
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. key — in music
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. chip — for betting
  10. season — of the year
  11. rush — hurry
  12. snap — to click
  13. key — for a lock
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rock — a stone
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. chip — to eat
  21. key — the most important part
  22. bulb — for light
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. rush — to hurry

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