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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. root — of a word
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. bass — the fish
  8. bass — low music
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mug — a cup
  13. root — of a plant
  14. mug — a face
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. mug — to rob
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. root — the cause
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — the fish
  24. kick — in football

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