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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 best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. cap — of ice
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. bear — the animal
  11. ball — a great time
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. ball — a dance
  17. cap — a lid
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. leaves — of a tree

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