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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. perch — the fish
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. mug — a face
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. bulb — for light
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bound — obliged
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. mug — to rob
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. bound — certain
  21. mug — a cup
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. rush — hurry

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