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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 116 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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. cue — a signal
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. cap — a hat
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. track — a song
  8. saw — the tool
  9. pitch — completely
  10. cap — a lid
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cue — for pool
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. track — a path
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cap — of ice
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cabinet — ministers

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