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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 that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. mug — a face
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. rush — hurry
  6. can — a tin
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mug — a cup
  11. can — to be able to
  12. roll — a cake
  13. mate — a partner
  14. can — a tin
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mate — a friend
  18. roll — a list
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. toast — bread
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. mate — to breed

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