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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. suit — clothes
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. fine — high quality
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. cell — a phone
  8. perch — the fish
  9. suit — in cards
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. bank — for money
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. pit — a hole
  14. cell — in biology
  15. bank — of a river
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. bank — for money
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. fine — all right
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. bowl — a football final

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