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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 120 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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. perch — the fish
  4. net — after costs
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. net — in sport
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. drill — army training
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. pass — a permit
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. drill — the tool
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. shower — to wash
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. shower — rain
  20. net — for catching
  21. drill — a practice
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. ruler — a monarch
  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