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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. march — music
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mark — a grade
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. march — the month
  13. face — to point toward
  14. face — part of the head
  15. face — to confront
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. perch — the fish
  21. march — the month
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. toast — bread
  24. mark — a trace

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