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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. pitch — completely
  3. can — to be able to
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. cap — of ice
  6. can — a tin
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. cap — a lid
  9. suit — to fit
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. ball — a great time
  12. suit — clothes
  13. ball — a dance
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. band — a ring
  19. can — a tin
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. band — a music group
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. suit — in cards

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