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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 120 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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. perch — the fish
  3. suit — clothes
  4. charge — in control
  5. suit — in cards
  6. board — to get on
  7. bound — certain
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. board — a committee
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. bound — tied together
  14. charge — a price
  15. bound — obliged
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. content — happy
  18. deal — to handle
  19. suit — to fit
  20. foot — a measure
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. charge — electricity
  24. content — the amount

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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