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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. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. swing — music
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. cap — a hat
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. rush — hurry
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. key — for a lock
  14. swing — in golf
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. key — the most important part
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. season — of the year
  19. season — in sport
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. swing — to play on
  22. cap — a lid
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. key — in music

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