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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. cap — a hat
  4. file — a tool
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. file — a line of people
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. file — a document
  9. key — the most important part
  10. fine — high quality
  11. present — a gift
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — clothes
  14. present — the time now
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fine — all right
  17. perch — the fish
  18. key — for a lock
  19. suit — to fit
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. cap — of ice
  23. present — there
  24. key — in music

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