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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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. dip — to sink
  6. saw — the tool
  7. kick — in football
  8. rock — a stone
  9. lean — to bend
  10. lean — thin
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. land — to come down
  13. land — ground
  14. rock — music
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. hide — to keep secret

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