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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 birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. date — the fruit
  3. chip — to eat
  4. pit — a hole
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. sharp — clever
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. fall — to drop
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. perch — the fish
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. fall — the season
  17. fall — to drop
  18. chip — for betting
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. pit — in a race
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. sharp — with an edge

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