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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. toast — bread
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. charge — a price
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. pass — a permit
  12. charge — in control
  13. bank — for money
  14. charge — electricity
  15. bank — of a river
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bank — for money
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. land — ground
  20. land — to come down
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. land — a country
  23. ball — a great time
  24. pass — to succeed

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