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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. net — in sport
  3. dip — to sink
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. wound — an injury
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. charge — a price
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. perch — the fish
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. charge — in control
  14. fine — all right
  15. charge — electricity
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. net — for catching
  20. wound — an injury
  21. fine — high quality
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. net — after costs
  24. dip — to dunk

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