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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  23. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. spell — letters
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. cap — a hat
  6. spell — magic
  7. bore — to drill
  8. deal — to handle
  9. rush — hurry
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. spell — a short time
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. sharp — clever
  19. race — humankind
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. cap — of ice
  22. race — a contest
  23. race — the arms race
  24. bore — to tire

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