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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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. land — a country
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fine — high quality
  6. current — electric
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. land — ground
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. current — happening now
  14. bear — the animal
  15. current — of water
  16. fine — all right
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. foot — a measure
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fine — a penalty

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