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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 120 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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. bound — obliged
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bound — tied together
  9. press — to push
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. press — newspapers
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. bound — certain
  15. mug — a cup
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. mug — a face
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. mug — to rob
  20. press — a publisher
  21. bear — the animal
  22. perch — the fish
  23. bear — the animal
  24. arm — part of the body

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