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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. bear — the animal
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. object — to protest
  8. mug — a face
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bear — the animal
  11. perch — the fish
  12. mug — a cup
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. mug — to rob
  16. foot — a measure
  17. date — the fruit
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mate — to breed
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. object — an aim
  23. object — a thing
  24. mate — a partner

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