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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mug — to rob
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. court — of law
  7. perch — the fish
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. court — for sport
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bulb — for light
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. mug — a face
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. sharp — clever
  17. mug — a cup
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bulb — for light
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. court — of a king
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. perch — for a bird

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