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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 116 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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. wake — a trail
  3. mug — a cup
  4. root — the cause
  5. chip — to eat
  6. track — to keep track
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. mug — a face
  9. last — finally
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. root — of a word
  13. last — to go on
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. root — of a plant
  16. track — a song
  17. mug — to rob
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. last — final
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. track — a path
  23. chip — for betting
  24. wake — before a funeral

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