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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  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. cue — for pool
  2. perch — the fish
  3. present — the time now
  4. lie — to recline
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bulb — for light
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. cue — a hint
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. present — there
  13. row — a line
  14. present — a gift
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. row — to paddle
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. temple — side of the head
  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