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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 116 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 always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. firm — steady
  5. season — of the year
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. cap — a lid
  16. season — in sport
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. bore — to drill
  21. bore — to tire
  22. cap — of ice
  23. firm — a company
  24. firm — decided

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