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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. bank — for money
  6. march — the month
  7. court — of a king
  8. perch — the fish
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. court — for sport
  12. court — of law
  13. march — music
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. bank — for money
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. bank — of a river
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. leaves — of a tree

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