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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.

Words on the sheet
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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. spell — a short time
  5. fall — to drop
  6. spell — letters
  7. fine — all right
  8. spell — magic
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bulb — for light
  14. perch — the fish
  15. fall — the season
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. fine — high quality
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. fall — to drop
  23. bulb — for light
  24. safe — a strongbox

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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