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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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bat — the animal
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. season — in sport
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. cap — a lid
  13. season — of the year
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. can — a tin
  16. bulb — for light
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. perch — the fish
  19. cap — a hat
  20. can — a tin
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. cap — of ice

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