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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. cap — a hat
  6. net — after costs
  7. firm — a company
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. cap — a lid
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. sharp — clever
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rock — music
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. can — to be able to
  18. net — in sport
  19. firm — decided
  20. net — for catching
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — for light
  23. firm — steady
  24. cap — of ice

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