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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. land — to come down
  5. rock — a stone
  6. cap — of ice
  7. shower — rain
  8. stand — to bear
  9. rock — music
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. cap — a lid
  12. shower — to wash
  13. land — a country
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. track — to keep track
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. track — a path
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. land — ground
  23. toast — bread
  24. track — a song

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