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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 116 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. board — to get on
  5. key — in music
  6. bound — certain
  7. board — a committee
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. key — for a lock
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. ball — a great time
  15. ball — a dance
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. bound — obliged
  18. chip — to eat
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. land — to come down
  21. chip — for betting
  22. key — the most important part
  23. land — ground
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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