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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. bulb — for light
  4. hand — help
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. cue — for pool
  8. can — to be able to
  9. perch — the fish
  10. bank — of a river
  11. cue — a hint
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. can — a tin
  14. track — a song
  15. cue — a signal
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. can — a tin
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bank — for money
  21. hand — in cards
  22. track — a path
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bank — for money

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