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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. perch — the fish
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. kick — in football
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. firm — decided
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. mug — to rob
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. lie — to recline
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. wound — an injury
  18. firm — steady
  19. mug — a face
  20. wound — an injury
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. mug — a cup
  23. firm — a company
  24. jam — in traffic

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