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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. charge — in control
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cap — a hat
  5. charge — a price
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. charge — electricity
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. lie — to recline
  15. cap — a lid
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. cap — of ice
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. foot — a measure
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. lie — an untruth

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