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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. can — a tin
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. perch — the fish
  6. wound — an injury
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. can — a tin
  9. date — the fruit
  10. wound — an injury
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. suit — clothes
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. saw — the tool
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. suit — to fit
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. saw — the tool
  20. can — to be able to
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. foot — a measure
  24. suit — in cards

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