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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 were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. can — a tin
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. mate — a partner
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mate — a friend
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. rest — what's left
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. rest — what's left
  13. rock — music
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mate — to breed
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — to be able to
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. rest — a break
  22. mark — a grade
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. perch — the fish

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