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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.

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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. board — a committee
  6. wake — a trail
  7. can — to be able to
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. board — to get on
  11. can — a tin
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. shower — rain
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. shower — to wash
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. perch — the fish
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. can — a tin

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