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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. shower — rain
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. track — to keep track
  7. shower — to wash
  8. present — a gift
  9. spell — magic
  10. spell — letters
  11. cap — of ice
  12. cap — a hat
  13. pitch — completely
  14. spell — a short time
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. track — a path
  22. present — there
  23. track — a song
  24. present — the time now

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