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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.

Make a worksheet

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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. perch — the fish
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. can — to be able to
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. key — for a lock
  10. can — a tin
  11. lean — to bend
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. can — a tin
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. prune — to trim
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. prune — to trim
  19. key — in music
  20. lean — thin
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. key — the most important part
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. wave — a sudden rise

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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