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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. chip — to eat
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. bank — for money
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bulb — for light
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bulb — for light
  11. mug — a cup
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. land — a country
  14. chip — for betting
  15. mug — a face
  16. bank — of a river
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bank — for money
  19. land — ground
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mug — to rob
  22. pound — a weight
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  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