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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.

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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. perch — the fish
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. pop — music
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. pop — soda
  8. mate — a friend
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. vault — a safe
  12. deal — to handle
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. object — to protest
  15. cue — a signal
  16. object — a thing
  17. pop — to visit
  18. cue — a hint
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mate — to breed
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. object — an aim
  24. cue — for pool

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