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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. fine — all right
  4. fine — high quality
  5. track — to keep track
  6. cap — a hat
  7. can — a tin
  8. cap — a lid
  9. suit — to fit
  10. face — part of the head
  11. suit — in cards
  12. present — there
  13. face — to point toward
  14. track — a path
  15. can — a tin
  16. face — to confront
  17. present — a gift
  18. cap — of ice
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. track — a song
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. suit — clothes
  23. present — the time now
  24. fine — a penalty

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