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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  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. hide — to keep secret
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. lean — thin
  5. lean — to bend
  6. vault — a safe
  7. perch — the fish
  8. stock — shares
  9. cue — for pool
  10. bulb — for light
  11. stock — goods
  12. cue — a signal
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. bulb — for light
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. cue — a hint
  23. hide — animal skin
  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