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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  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. perch — the fish
  2. saw — the tool
  3. rest — what's left
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bore — to tire
  7. rest — what's left
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. rest — a break
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. saw — the tool
  12. lie — to recline
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. suit — to fit
  16. lean — thin
  17. suit — in cards
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lean — to bend
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. bore — to drill
  23. suit — clothes
  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