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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. toast — bread
  4. cue — a signal
  5. lie — to recline
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. foot — a measure
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. land — ground
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. cue — a hint
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. date — the fruit
  18. cue — for pool
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. land — to come down
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. toast — the most admired

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