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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 124 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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. current — of water
  5. mark — a trace
  6. ball — a great time
  7. current — electric
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. current — happening now
  10. cap — of ice
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. season — in sport
  15. cap — a lid
  16. ball — a dance
  17. suit — to fit
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bear — the animal
  20. suit — clothes
  21. mark — a grade
  22. season — of the year
  23. bear — the animal
  24. ball — a round shape

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