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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. cue — for pool
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. cue — a signal
  5. pit — in a race
  6. rash — a series
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. rash — hasty
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pit — a hole
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. cue — a hint
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. perch — the fish
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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