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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. foot — a measure
  3. can — to be able to
  4. object — a thing
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. ball — a great time
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. ball — a dance
  14. pop — music
  15. land — ground
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. pop — soda
  20. land — a country
  21. pop — to visit
  22. object — an aim
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. land — to come down

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