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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. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. current — of water
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — hurry
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. cue — a hint
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. current — happening now
  10. cue — for pool
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. cap — a hat
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. bear — the animal
  15. cap — a lid
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bear — the animal
  19. dip — to sink
  20. squash — the sport
  21. current — electric
  22. squash — to crush
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. pitch — completely

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