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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: foot · suit · cue · cap · safe · scale · net · hide

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. net — after costs
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cue — a signal
  7. cap — a lid
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cue — a hint
  10. scale — in music
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. net — in sport
  14. suit — in cards
  15. cue — for pool
  16. cap — of ice
  17. net — for catching
  18. scale — size or range
  19. foot — a measure
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. suit — to fit
  23. suit — clothes
  24. hide — animal skin

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