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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. squash — to crush
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. charge — a price
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. perch — the fish
  10. charge — in control
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. rush — hurry
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. charge — electricity
  16. fall — to drop
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. toast — bread
  19. fall — the season
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. fall — to drop
  23. squash — the sport
  24. pitcher — a jug

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