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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. cap — a hat
  3. tear — to rip
  4. suit — to fit
  5. rock — a stone
  6. tear — from crying
  7. snap — to click
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. rock — music
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. mark — a trace
  12. cap — a lid
  13. cap — of ice
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. suit — in cards
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. mark — a grade
  18. rash — a series
  19. suit — clothes
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. tear — from crying
  24. rash — hasty

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