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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. land — ground
  4. current — of water
  5. bulb — for light
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. current — happening now
  8. land — to come down
  9. stock — goods
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. stock — shares
  13. can — to be able to
  14. kid — child
  15. kid — to tease
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. bulb — for light
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. bore — to drill
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. current — electric
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bulb — of a plant

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