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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. face — to point toward
  3. can — a tin
  4. cap — a lid
  5. staff — a stick
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. charge — electricity
  8. bound — obliged
  9. staff — employees
  10. charge — a price
  11. staff — employees
  12. face — to confront
  13. face — part of the head
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. bound — certain
  17. cap — of ice
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — a grade
  20. charge — in control
  21. bound — tied together
  22. can — a tin
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. bowl — to roll

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