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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: leaves · foot · mouse · safe · tear · cabinet · staff · cap

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. staff — a stick
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cap — a lid
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. tear — to rip
  12. staff — employees
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. tear — from crying
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. foot — a measure
  17. cap — of ice
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. tear — from crying
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. cap — a hat
  24. leaves — of a tree

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