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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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. bear — the animal
  7. perch — the fish
  8. lie — to recline
  9. shower — rain
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. can — a tin
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. can — a tin
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. shower — to wash
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. bear — the animal
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. can — to be able to

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