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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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 that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. wake — a trail
  3. lie — to recline
  4. track — a path
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. present — a gift
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. track — to keep track
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. branch — a division
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. present — there
  18. mug — to rob
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. track — a song
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. perch — the fish
  23. mug — a cup
  24. present — the time now

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