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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. toast — bread
  3. board — a committee
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. suit — clothes
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cell — a phone
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. cell — in biology
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. suit — to fit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. board — to get on

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