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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. land — ground
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. press — newspapers
  5. rest — what's left
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. stock — shares
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. game — a match
  10. foot — a measure
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. game — wild animals
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. rest — what's left
  15. press — a publisher
  16. stock — goods
  17. rest — a break
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. land — a country
  20. land — to come down
  21. press — to push
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. rock — 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