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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  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. perch — for a bird
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. perch — the fish
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. hand — help
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. hand — in cards
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. lie — to recline
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — a tin
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. can — a tin
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. hide — animal skin
  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