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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. mug — a cup
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. lean — to bend
  6. fall — to drop
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mug — to rob
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. rash — a series
  12. fall — the season
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. fall — to drop
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. rash — hasty
  18. perch — the fish
  19. content — the amount
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. mug — a face
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. lean — thin
  24. content — happy

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