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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. suit — in cards
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. lean — thin
  6. net — after costs
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. suit — to fit
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. net — in sport
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. lean — to bend
  16. perch — the fish
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. suit — clothes

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