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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. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. roll — a list
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. current — electric
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — of water
  10. lean — thin
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. lean — to bend
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. land — to come down
  20. land — ground
  21. toast — bread
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. roll — a cake

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