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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. pit — in a race
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. mine — for digging
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. pit — a hole
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. pound — a weight
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. can — to be able to
  16. row — a line
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. perch — the fish
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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