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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — clothes
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. ball — a great time
  7. rock — music
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. pop — to visit
  14. perch — the fish
  15. snap — to click
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. suit — to fit
  18. rock — a stone
  19. branch — a division
  20. ball — a dance
  21. rush — hurry
  22. pop — soda
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. pop — music

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