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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. suit — in cards
  4. lie — to recline
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. suit — clothes
  8. staff — employees
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. staff — employees
  11. mark — a grade
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. suit — to fit
  14. staff — a stick
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bulb — for light
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. mark — a trace
  20. sharp — clever
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bulb — for light
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. bulb — of a plant

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