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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. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. bound — obliged
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. fine — all right
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. pit — in a race
  9. present — the time now
  10. perch — the fish
  11. fine — high quality
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. season — of the year
  14. present — a gift
  15. season — in sport
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. present — there
  20. bound — certain
  21. pit — a hole
  22. bound — tied together
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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