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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: calf · safe · trunk · key · pitcher · cold · cap · suit

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The water is too ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. suit — clothes
  3. key — in music
  4. cold — the Cold War
  5. suit — to fit
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. key — for a lock
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. key — the most important part
  13. cap — a lid
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. cap — of ice
  19. cold — an illness
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. cold — not warm
  23. suit — in cards
  24. safe — out of danger

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