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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. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. can — to be able to
  3. can — a tin
  4. current — of water
  5. land — a country
  6. firm — steady
  7. current — happening now
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. rush — hurry
  10. land — ground
  11. fine — all right
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. current — electric
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. fine — high quality
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. vault — a safe
  20. firm — decided
  21. mine — for digging
  22. firm — a company
  23. can — a tin
  24. land — to come down

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