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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. pit — a hole
  3. pit — in a race
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. perch — the fish
  6. press — newspapers
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. snap — to click
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fine — all right
  15. press — to push
  16. band — a ring
  17. band — a music group
  18. saw — the tool
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. land — to come down
  21. saw — the tool
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. land — ground
  24. press — a publisher

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