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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: safe · can · hide · land · rule · pop · wax · bay

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. land — a country
  5. rule — a law
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. wax — to grow
  8. pop — music
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. can — to be able to
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. land — to come down
  13. land — ground
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. can — a tin
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. pop — to visit
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. can — a tin
  24. pop — soda

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