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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. plane — a tool
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. fine — all right
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. march — the month
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. perch — the fish
  15. march — music
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. march — the month
  23. fine — high quality
  24. saw — the tool

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