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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 120 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. suit — to fit
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. suit — in cards
  8. row — a line
  9. rest — what's left
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. row — to paddle
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. perch — the fish
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. rest — a break
  21. kid — to tease
  22. rest — what's left
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. kid — child

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