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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. bound — obliged
  3. track — to keep track
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. track — a path
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. cap — a lid
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. cap — of ice
  13. board — a committee
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. track — a song
  20. bound — certain
  21. board — to get on
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bound — tied together
  24. board — a flat piece

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