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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. cap — a lid
  3. cap — of ice
  4. can — a tin
  5. wake — a trail
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mine — for digging
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. face — to confront
  10. can — a tin
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. face — to point toward
  14. can — to be able to
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. face — part of the head
  17. mug — a cup
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. mug — to rob
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. mug — a face
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. temple — side of the head

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