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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. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. rush — hurry
  3. perch — the fish
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. face — part of the head
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. face — to point toward
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. chest — a box
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. cue — a signal
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. cue — a hint
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. chest — of your body
  19. bear — the animal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitch — completely
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. bear — the animal
  24. face — to confront

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