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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 120 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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. rock — a stone
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. perch — the fish
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. board — a committee
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. snap — to click
  15. sharp — clever
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. rock — music
  19. suit — clothes
  20. suit — in cards
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. board — to get on
  23. suit — to fit
  24. board — a flat piece

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