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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. saw — the tool
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. shower — rain
  5. suit — clothes
  6. suit — to fit
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. fine — high quality
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. stand — to bear
  11. fine — all right
  12. shower — to wash
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. cap — a lid
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cap — of ice
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. suit — in cards
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. stand — for spectators

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