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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 116 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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. row — to paddle
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. staff — employees
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. row — a line
  11. season — in sport
  12. land — ground
  13. wake — a trail
  14. staff — a stick
  15. vault — a safe
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. season — of the year
  18. staff — employees
  19. bank — for money
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. land — to come down
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. bank — for money

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