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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. prune — to trim
  3. mark — a trace
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. perch — the fish
  6. scale — in music
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. row — a line
  9. row — to paddle
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. mark — a grade
  17. lie — to recline
  18. scale — size or range
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. prune — to trim
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. safe — a strongbox

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