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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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. season — of the year
  3. bank — for money
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. current — electric
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. bank — for money
  9. fork — in a road
  10. season — in sport
  11. bank — of a river
  12. foot — a measure
  13. saw — the tool
  14. cap — of ice
  15. current — happening now
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. cap — a lid
  23. current — of water
  24. ruler — for measuring

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