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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. bound — tied together
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. cue — a hint
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — a trace
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. cue — for pool
  13. swing — to play on
  14. cue — a signal
  15. bound — certain
  16. perch — the fish
  17. swing — in golf
  18. mark — to pay attention

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