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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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bore — to tire
  8. can — a tin
  9. pass — a permit
  10. can — to be able to
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. bore — to drill
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. craft — a skill
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. can — a tin
  24. craft — boats

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