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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. current — happening now
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rock — music
  8. current — of water
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. mug — a cup
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bear — the animal
  13. prune — to trim
  14. bear — the animal
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. rock — a stone
  19. prune — to trim
  20. current — electric
  21. mug — a face
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. mug — to rob

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