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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. can — to be able to
  3. firm — steady
  4. perch — the fish
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. can — a tin
  7. suit — clothes
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. firm — decided
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. mine — for digging
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bore — to tire
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. bore — to drill
  16. can — a tin
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. fine — all right
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. suit — to fit
  22. firm — a company
  23. fine — high quality
  24. perch — for a bird

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