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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. cap — a lid
  3. season — of the year
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. rock — a stone
  7. cap — a hat
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. season — in sport
  12. saw — the tool
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. object — a thing
  15. rock — music
  16. object — an aim
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. object — to protest
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. fine — high quality
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. cap — of ice

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