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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. cap — a hat
  3. pitch — completely
  4. cap — a lid
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. scale — size or range
  8. charge — in control
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. object — to protest
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. charge — electricity
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. ball — a dance
  16. scale — in music
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. cap — of ice
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. object — an aim
  24. charge — a price

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