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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — a cup
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mug — to rob
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. season — in sport
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. snap — to click
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. season — of the year

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