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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. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. cap — a hat
  3. bore — to tire
  4. tear — to rip
  5. mark — a trace
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. bore — to drill
  13. cap — a lid
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. bear — the animal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. mark — a grade
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cap — of ice
  23. tear — from crying
  24. pass — to succeed

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