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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. saw — the tool
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. mark — a trace
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. fine — all right
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. rash — a series
  11. rest — what's left
  12. perch — the fish
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a grade
  15. pass — a permit
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. rash — hasty
  21. fine — high quality
  22. rest — what's left
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. rest — a break

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