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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 116 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 owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. craft — a skill
  5. net — after costs
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. net — in sport
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. net — for catching
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. craft — boats
  19. perch — the fish
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. wake — a trail
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. bowl — a dish

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