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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. track — to keep track
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. current — of water
  9. track — a song
  10. lie — to recline
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. current — electric
  15. pit — a hole
  16. stand — to bear
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. snap — to click
  21. pit — in a race
  22. perch — the fish
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. track — a path

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