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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. ground — the earth
  3. present — there
  4. suit — to fit
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rock — music
  7. charge — in control
  8. ground — crushed
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. ground — a position
  11. rock — a stone
  12. cap — a lid
  13. saw — the tool
  14. cap — of ice
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. suit — clothes
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. saw — the tool
  19. charge — electricity
  20. present — a gift
  21. charge — a price
  22. present — the time now
  23. suit — in cards
  24. calf — a young animal

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