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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. net — in sport
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. row — to paddle
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. net — after costs
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. net — for catching
  11. row — a line
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. land — a country
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. season — in sport
  18. land — ground
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. land — to come down
  22. season — of the year
  23. stand — to bear
  24. ruler — for measuring

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