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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. bound — tied together
  5. mug — a face
  6. rule — government
  7. land — to come down
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. rest — what's left
  10. plane — a tool
  11. rest — a break
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. land — a country
  14. rest — what's left
  15. mug — to rob
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. bound — certain
  20. land — ground
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. bound — obliged
  23. mug — a cup
  24. trunk — of a car

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