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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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. perch — for a bird
  4. face — to point toward
  5. firm — decided
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. root — of a plant
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. face — part of the head
  10. firm — steady
  11. cue — for pool
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. root — of a word
  14. rush — hurry
  15. face — to confront
  16. cue — a hint
  17. firm — a company
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bound — certain
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. root — the cause
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — obliged
  24. cue — a signal

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