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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. cap — of ice
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bass — the fish
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. tube — the underground
  8. ball — a dance
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. ball — a great time
  12. bass — low music
  13. cap — a lid
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. cap — a hat
  16. rock — music
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. mark — a trace
  20. rock — a stone
  21. tube — a container
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. rock — to move gently

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