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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. can — a tin
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. can — a tin
  5. cap — a hat
  6. club — for golf
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ball — a dance
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a grade
  12. can — to be able to
  13. band — a music group
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. stock — shares
  16. ball — a great time
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mark — a trace
  19. cap — of ice
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. band — a ring
  22. club — a group
  23. club — for dancing
  24. stock — goods

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