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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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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: snap · chip · jam · toast · nail · foot · key · stock

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. chip — for betting
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. chip — to eat
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. key — for a lock
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. stock — shares
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. key — the most important part
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. key — in music
  19. foot — a measure
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. stock — goods
  22. toast — bread
  23. snap — to click
  24. toast — the most admired

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