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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. perch — the fish
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. face — to confront
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. face — to point toward
  10. sharp — clever
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pass — a permit
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. pound — a weight

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