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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  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. cap — a hat
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. cap — of ice
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. root — of a plant
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. squash — to crush
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stem — to come from
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. root — of a word
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. can — to be able to
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. squash — the sport
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. root — the cause
  23. cap — a lid
  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