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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. land — ground
  4. deal — to handle
  5. land — to come down
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. season — in sport
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. season — of the year
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. toast — bread
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. can — a tin
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. pound — a weight
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. can — a tin
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. season — to add flavour

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