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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 116 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. suit — in cards
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. suit — to fit
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. rash — hasty
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. season — in sport
  11. rash — a series
  12. cap — a lid
  13. staff — a stick
  14. season — of the year
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. staff — employees
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. staff — employees
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. cap — of ice
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — a supporter

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