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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. perch — the fish
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. prune — to trim
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. prune — to trim
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. ball — a great time
  13. bulb — for light
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. bulb — for light
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stand — to bear
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. ball — a dance
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. ball — a round shape

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