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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.

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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bulb — for light
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. spell — a short time
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. spell — letters
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. perch — the fish
  17. spell — magic
  18. temple — a place of worship

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