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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. current — electric
  4. spell — a short time
  5. track — a path
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. perch — the fish
  8. track — to keep track
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. spell — letters
  13. current — happening now
  14. bulb — for light
  15. current — of water
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. bulb — for light
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. spell — magic
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. track — a song
  24. pitcher — a jug

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