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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. can — a tin
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. charge — a price
  5. rock — a stone
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. cap — of ice
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. present — there
  11. rock — music
  12. can — a tin
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. track — a path
  16. cap — a hat
  17. present — the time now
  18. can — to be able to
  19. track — to keep track
  20. present — a gift
  21. perch — the fish
  22. charge — in control
  23. track — a song
  24. charge — electricity

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