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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 owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. fine — all right
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. fork — in a road
  6. bound — tied together
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. bound — certain
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. can — to be able to
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. perch — the fish
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bound — obliged
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. squash — the sport
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. squash — to crush
  24. fine — high quality

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