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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. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. lean — thin
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. squash — the sport
  9. snap — to click
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. squash — to crush
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. foot — a measure
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. prune — to trim
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. lean — to bend
  21. prune — to trim
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. perch — the fish
  24. safe — out of danger

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