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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 owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. bore — to drill
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. perch — the fish
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bound — obliged
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. cap — of ice
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bound — certain
  17. branch — a division
  18. bore — to tire
  19. cap — a hat
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. cap — a lid
  24. bore — gave birth

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