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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. scale — size or range
  3. scale — in music
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. staff — employees
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. ball — a great time
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. staff — a stick
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. staff — employees
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. ball — a dance
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. pitcher — in baseball

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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