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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. bear — the animal
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cue — a hint
  6. deal — to handle
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. land — to come down
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. cap — a hat
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bear — the animal
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. cap — of ice
  20. cue — a signal
  21. cap — a lid
  22. land — ground
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. cabinet — ministers

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