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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. perch — the fish
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. rush — hurry
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bulb — for light
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. bear — the animal
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. squash — to crush
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. squash — the sport

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