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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. cap — of ice
  5. tear — from crying
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. tear — to rip
  8. deal — to handle
  9. staff — employees
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. ball — a dance
  12. wax — to grow
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. cap — a lid
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. staff — employees
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. ball — a great time
  21. staff — a stick
  22. tear — from crying
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. deal — an agreement

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