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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. firm — a company
  3. rock — a stone
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. pop — to visit
  7. firm — decided
  8. firm — steady
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. pit — in a race
  11. land — to come down
  12. pop — soda
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. pit — a hole
  15. track — a song
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. track — to keep track
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. land — ground
  21. track — a path
  22. rock — music
  23. pop — music
  24. land — a country

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