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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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Word bank
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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  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. mouse — for a computer
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. stock — shares
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. suit — in cards
  10. foot — a measure
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. scale — in music
  15. perch — the fish
  16. rock — a stone
  17. scale — size or range
  18. stock — goods
  19. rock — music
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. suit — to fit
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. suit — clothes

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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