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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. key — in music
  3. land — to come down
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. can — a tin
  7. land — ground
  8. can — a tin
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. press — newspapers
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. press — a publisher
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. press — to push
  17. key — the most important part
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. key — for a lock
  24. bay — a horse colour

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