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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. rest — what's left
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. bear — the animal
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. rest — a break
  10. bulb — for light
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bass — low music
  15. bass — the fish
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. stand — to bear
  20. bear — the animal
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. trunk — of a car

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