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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 120 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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bear — the animal
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. suit — to fit
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bear — the animal
  10. pit — a hole
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. perch — the fish
  15. saw — the tool
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. suit — clothes
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. suit — in cards
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rush — hurry
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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