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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. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. can — a tin
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. land — to come down
  5. ball — a great time
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. ball — a dance
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. branch — a division
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. can — a tin
  15. key — the most important part
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. stand — to bear
  20. key — for a lock
  21. can — to be able to
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. land — a country
  24. key — in music

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