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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. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. current — of water
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. cap — a lid
  6. rest — what's left
  7. pit — in a race
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. chair — a leader
  12. current — happening now
  13. rest — a break
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. ball — a dance
  16. ball — a great time
  17. cap — of ice
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. fine — all right
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. current — electric
  22. pit — a hole
  23. rest — what's left
  24. fine — high quality

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