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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. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. cap — a hat
  3. face — to point toward
  4. current — happening now
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. bark — to shout
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. can — a tin
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. cap — a lid
  12. spell — a short time
  13. current — electric
  14. can — a tin
  15. spell — magic
  16. face — part of the head
  17. current — of water
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. can — to be able to
  21. face — to confront
  22. cap — of ice
  23. spell — letters
  24. pitch — completely

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