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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.

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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. rash — hasty
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. prune — to trim
  6. charge — a price
  7. charge — electricity
  8. perch — the fish
  9. charge — in control
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. can — a tin
  15. rash — a series
  16. pass — a permit
  17. bear — the animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. prune — to trim
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. bulb — for light
  24. pass — to spend time

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