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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. net — after costs
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. ground — a position
  6. pass — a permit
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. perch — the fish
  9. swing — music
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. ground — crushed
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. deal — to handle
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. swing — to play on
  19. net — in sport
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. net — for catching
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. ground — the earth
  24. pass — to succeed

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