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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. row — a line
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. mate — to breed
  10. perch — the fish
  11. mate — a partner
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. bound — certain
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bound — obliged
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. mate — a friend
  23. toast — bread
  24. bound — tied together

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