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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. wind — moving air
  5. perch — the fish
  6. squash — to crush
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. squash — the sport
  10. wind — moving air
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. stand — to bear
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. saw — the tool
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. saw — the tool
  20. kick — in football
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. toast — bread
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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