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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. cap — a lid
  5. mark — a grade
  6. can — a tin
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. wind — moving air
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. wind — to turn a key
  12. can — to be able to
  13. mark — a trace
  14. suit — in cards
  15. deal — to handle
  16. cap — a hat
  17. wind — moving air
  18. can — a tin
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. suit — clothes
  22. cap — of ice
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. arm — part of the body

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