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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 birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. track — a path
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. track — to keep track
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. perch — the fish
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. ball — a dance
  16. track — a song
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. ball — a great time
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rush — hurry
  23. roll — a list
  24. roll — a cake

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