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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. ball — a great time
  4. bank — for money
  5. ball — a dance
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. land — ground
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bank — for money
  11. stem — to come from
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. land — a country
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mark — a grade
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. land — to come down
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bank — of a river

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