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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 120 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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. staff — employees
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. staff — a stick
  10. land — to come down
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. land — a country
  13. land — ground
  14. mark — a trace
  15. chip — to eat
  16. foot — a measure
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. chip — for betting
  21. mine — for digging
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. mark — a grade
  24. safe — out of danger

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