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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 120 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 ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. wax — to grow
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. net — after costs
  11. net — in sport
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. perch — the fish
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. net — for catching
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. dip — to sink
  24. bowl — to roll

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