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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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468
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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 don't need to ________________ round.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. perch — the fish
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. pop — soda
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. season — in sport
  7. chip — to eat
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. pop — music
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. chip — for betting
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. season — of the year

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