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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: cap · hide · bass · cabinet · charge · calf · sharp · mug

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. charge — in control
  5. sharp — clever
  6. cap — a lid
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. charge — a price
  9. cap — a hat
  10. mug — a face
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. bass — low music
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mug — to rob
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. charge — electricity
  22. mug — a cup
  23. cap — of ice
  24. bass — the instrument

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