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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. perch — the fish
  4. current — of water
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. current — happening now
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. branch — a division
  16. toast — bread
  17. current — electric
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. fine — all right
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. saw — the tool
  24. fine — high quality

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