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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. rule — government
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. rule — a law
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. land — ground
  11. saw — the tool
  12. land — to come down
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. land — a country
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. dip — to sink
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. deal — to handle
  22. sharp — clever
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. saw — the tool

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