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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 120 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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. wound — an injury
  6. bore — to drill
  7. cap — a lid
  8. mine — for digging
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. wound — an injury
  15. bore — to tire
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. foot — a measure
  21. deal — to handle
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. cap — of ice

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