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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 116 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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. net — for catching
  3. bulb — for light
  4. can — a tin
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. can — to be able to
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. can — a tin
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. bulb — for light
  12. cue — a hint
  13. net — after costs
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. bark — to shout
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. net — in sport
  21. perch — the fish
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cue — a signal

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