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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. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. spring — the season
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. mark — a grade
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. content — the amount
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. spring — a coil
  12. land — ground
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. content — happy
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. mark — a trace
  18. land — to come down
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. spring — of water
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. foot — a measure

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