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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. firm — decided
  3. bank — for money
  4. press — newspapers
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. press — a publisher
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. firm — a company
  10. land — to come down
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. ball — a dance
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. press — to push
  15. bank — of a river
  16. land — ground
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. firm — steady
  19. ball — a great time
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bank — for money
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. nail — on a finger

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