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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. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. wake — a trail
  6. dip — to sink
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. mark — a trace
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. land — to come down
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bulb — for light
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. land — ground
  21. rush — hurry
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. mark — a grade

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