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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. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. rest — what's left
  3. land — to come down
  4. rest — what's left
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. land — a country
  8. bank — for money
  9. bank — for money
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. foot — a measure
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. land — ground
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rest — a break
  18. cell — a phone
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. bank — of a river
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. cell — in biology

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