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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. firm — decided
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. pit — in a race
  6. pit — a hole
  7. firm — a company
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. firm — steady
  11. cap — of ice
  12. rush — hurry
  13. can — to be able to
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. wax — to grow
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. can — a tin
  20. cap — a lid
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. racket — a loud noise

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