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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. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. mate — a friend
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. cap — a hat
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cap — a lid
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. snap — to click
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. mate — to breed
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. squash — to crush
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. squash — the sport
  18. mate — a partner
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. suit — to fit
  21. suit — in cards
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. suit — clothes

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