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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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. perch — the fish
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. fine — all right
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. cue — for pool
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. cue — a hint
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. snap — to click
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. game — a match
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cue — a signal
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. mouse — the animal

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