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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 116 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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. land — a country
  4. pop — music
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. stem — to come from
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. land — to come down
  10. firm — a company
  11. pop — soda
  12. cue — for pool
  13. lie — to recline
  14. firm — steady
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. firm — decided
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. cue — a hint
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. land — ground
  24. cue — a signal

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