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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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. can — a tin
  3. rule — a law
  4. rush — hurry
  5. staff — employees
  6. staff — employees
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. branch — a division
  9. can — a tin
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. tube — a container
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. staff — a stick
  17. rule — government
  18. can — to be able to
  19. land — a country
  20. land — ground
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. tube — the underground
  23. rush — a thrill
  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