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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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  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. perch — for a bird
  2. perch — the fish
  3. face — to confront
  4. bank — for money
  5. current — of water
  6. mug — a face
  7. net — after costs
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. mug — a cup
  10. dip — to sink
  11. mug — to rob
  12. face — to point toward
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. face — part of the head
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. current — electric
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bank — of a river
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. current — happening now
  22. net — in sport
  23. net — for catching
  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