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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. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. wax — to grow
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. chip — to eat
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. rash — a series
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. wound — an injury
  14. perch — the fish
  15. chip — for betting
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rash — hasty
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. wound — an injury
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. rush — hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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