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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.

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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. face — to point toward
  4. cap — a lid
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. season — of the year
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. cap — a hat
  12. cap — of ice
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. face — to confront
  15. bulb — for light
  16. season — in sport
  17. staff — a stick
  18. face — part of the head
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bulb — for light
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. staff — employees
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. safe — a strongbox

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