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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 120 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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. object — a thing
  3. cap — a hat
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. object — to protest
  7. stock — shares
  8. stock — goods
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. game — a match
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lean — thin
  14. object — an aim
  15. game — wild animals
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. lean — to bend
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. cap — of ice
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. game — a kind of play

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