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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. rock — a stone
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. rush — hurry
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. current — electric
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. lie — to recline
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. bore — to tire
  16. rock — music
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. bore — to drill
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. racket — for tennis

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