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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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. drill — a practice
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. drill — the tool
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. rush — hurry
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. perch — the fish
  14. pass — a permit
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. drill — army training
  20. saw — the tool
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pitch — completely

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