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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. cap — a lid
  4. cap — a hat
  5. mark — a trace
  6. spring — of water
  7. mark — a grade
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bulb — for light
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. rest — what's left
  12. spring — the season
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bulb — for light
  16. cap — of ice
  17. rest — what's left
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. spring — a coil
  22. rest — a break
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rash — hasty

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