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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. net — for catching
  3. can — a tin
  4. cap — of ice
  5. net — in sport
  6. cap — a lid
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. rash — a series
  10. bear — the animal
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. current — electric
  13. face — to point toward
  14. can — a tin
  15. rash — hasty
  16. cap — a hat
  17. current — happening now
  18. face — to confront
  19. net — after costs
  20. current — of water
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bear — the animal
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rash — on the 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