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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. rock — a stone
  3. cap — a hat
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. net — for catching
  6. net — in sport
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. saw — the tool
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — to bear
  15. rush — hurry
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. saw — the tool
  19. cap — of ice
  20. toast — bread
  21. rock — music
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. net — after costs
  24. vault — a safe

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