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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. pass — a permit
  8. cap — of ice
  9. date — the fruit
  10. cap — a hat
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. cap — a lid
  20. track — a path
  21. lie — to recline
  22. perch — the fish
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. track — a song

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