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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mug — to rob
  3. cap — of ice
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. scale — in music
  6. face — to point toward
  7. cap — a hat
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. can — a tin
  14. mug — a cup
  15. rock — music
  16. face — part of the head
  17. scale — size or range
  18. rock — a stone
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. can — a tin
  22. mug — a face
  23. face — to confront
  24. cap — a lid

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