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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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. can — a tin
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. present — the time now
  5. fork — in a road
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. season — of the year
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. key — in music
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. key — the most important part
  12. perch — the fish
  13. can — a tin
  14. rock — a stone
  15. season — in sport
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. key — for a lock
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. rock — music
  21. can — to be able to
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. present — a gift
  24. fork — a garden tool

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