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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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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: nail · pass · last · mug · mouse · bowl · hand · cap

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. cap — of ice
  4. mug — a cup
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. last — finally
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. last — final
  9. mug — a face
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. pass — a permit
  19. last — to go on
  20. hand — in cards
  21. cap — a lid
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. hand — help

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