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

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. ball — a great time
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. wound — an injury
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. land — a country
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. spell — a short time
  12. ball — a dance
  13. can — a tin
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. can — to be able to
  16. spell — magic
  17. wound — an injury
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. spell — letters
  20. deal — to handle
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. can — a tin
  24. land — ground

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