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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. land — to come down
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. bulb — for light
  5. land — a country
  6. bulb — for light
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. chip — to eat
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. land — ground
  15. chip — for betting
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. branch — a division

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