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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 one o'clock ________________.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. cap — a hat
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. cue — a hint
  8. current — electric
  9. cue — a signal
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. current — of water
  12. cap — of ice
  13. cue — for pool
  14. cap — a lid
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. current — happening now
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. sharp — clever
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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