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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 owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. shower — rain
  3. board — to get on
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. saw — the tool
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. board — a committee
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. current — of water
  14. current — electric
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. current — happening now
  20. saw — the tool
  21. shower — to wash
  22. perch — the fish
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. racket — a loud noise

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