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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. track — a song
  4. drill — army training
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. board — a committee
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. perch — the fish
  13. track — to keep track
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bulb — for light
  16. board — to get on
  17. track — a path
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. drill — the tool
  20. drill — a practice
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. board — a flat piece

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