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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 120 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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. firm — decided
  5. cap — of ice
  6. sharp — clever
  7. firm — steady
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. mark — a grade
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. cap — a lid
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mark — a trace
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. firm — a company
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. hide — animal skin

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