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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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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. suit — to fit
  5. suit — in cards
  6. row — a line
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. bound — tied together
  9. fine — high quality
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bound — certain
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. wake — a trail
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. perch — the fish
  19. bound — obliged
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. suit — clothes
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. fine — all right

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