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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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. rock — music
  3. perch — the fish
  4. can — to be able to
  5. rock — a stone
  6. season — in sport
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. can — a tin
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. season — of the year
  12. bound — certain
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. wound — an injury
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. bound — obliged
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. dip — to sink
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bound — tied together
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. can — a tin
  24. wound — an injury

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