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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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Word bank
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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. field — farmland
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. field — for sport
  6. perch — the fish
  7. staff — employees
  8. current — electric
  9. current — of water
  10. staff — employees
  11. current — happening now
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. fine — all right
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. field — a subject
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. fine — high quality
  20. suit — in cards
  21. suit — clothes
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. staff — a stick

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