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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. season — in sport
  11. chip — for betting
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. season — of the year
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. perch — the fish
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. leaves — to go away

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