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

Word bank: cue · foot · nail · chip · fine · field · cabinet · current

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. field — for sport
  3. current — of water
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. current — electric
  10. field — farmland
  11. current — happening now
  12. chip — to eat
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — a signal
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. foot — a measure
  18. fine — high quality
  19. chip — for betting
  20. cue — for pool
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. field — a subject
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. fine — all right

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