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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. stand — to bear
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. cap — a lid
  7. staff — employees
  8. cap — a hat
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a grade
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. cap — of ice
  15. staff — a stick
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mark — a trace
  19. snap — to click
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. staff — employees
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. stand — on your feet

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