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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. cue — for pool
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. cue — a hint
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. rock — music
  10. firm — steady
  11. firm — decided
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. firm — a company
  14. perch — the fish
  15. wax — to grow
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. cue — a signal
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. mark — a trace
  20. mark — a grade
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mine — for digging
  24. lie — to recline

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