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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. perch — the fish
  6. can — to be able to
  7. spring — a coil
  8. mug — to rob
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. mug — a face
  11. suit — to fit
  12. spring — of water
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. can — a tin
  16. lie — to recline
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. spring — the season
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. mug — a cup
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. suit — clothes
  23. suit — in cards
  24. leaves — lets stay

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