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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. lean — thin
  6. rash — a series
  7. land — ground
  8. lean — to bend
  9. net — in sport
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rash — hasty
  13. land — to come down
  14. mate — to breed
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. mate — a friend
  20. mate — a partner
  21. net — after costs
  22. net — for catching
  23. rock — music
  24. arm — part of the body

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