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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. deal — to handle
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. chest — of your body
  6. can — to be able to
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. chest — of your body
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. current — happening now
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. can — a tin
  13. season — of the year
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. season — in sport
  16. can — a tin
  17. chest — a box
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. current — electric
  21. perch — the fish
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. current — of water
  24. deal — an agreement

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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