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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. net — in sport
  4. suit — in cards
  5. perch — the fish
  6. suit — clothes
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. chip — for betting
  9. suit — to fit
  10. present — the time now
  11. net — after costs
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. net — for catching
  15. rest — what's left
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. present — a gift
  19. rest — what's left
  20. present — there
  21. rest — a break
  22. chip — to eat
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. perch — for a bird

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