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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: land · ruler · arm · hide · ground · firm · game · jam

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. firm — decided
  3. ground — the earth
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. land — a country
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. land — ground
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ground — crushed
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. ground — a position
  13. land — to come down
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. firm — steady
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. game — wild animals
  18. game — a match
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. firm — a company
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. jam — in traffic

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