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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. toast — bread
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bass — the fish
  6. cue — for pool
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. perch — the fish
  17. track — a song
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. track — a path
  21. bass — low music
  22. cue — a signal
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. wake — a trail

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