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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. track — to keep track
  5. cap — of ice
  6. rash — hasty
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. cap — a hat
  9. pass — a permit
  10. rash — a series
  11. track — a song
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. track — a path
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. sharp — clever
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. bear — to put up with

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