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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. fork — in a road
  3. ground — the earth
  4. chip — for betting
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. land — ground
  8. bank — for money
  9. press — to push
  10. land — to come down
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. ground — a position
  13. ground — crushed
  14. land — a country
  15. press — a publisher
  16. bank — of a river
  17. roll — a cake
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. roll — a list
  21. press — newspapers
  22. bank — for money
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. chip — to eat

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