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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.

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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. mark — a grade
  4. fine — high quality
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. perch — the fish
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. drill — a practice
  9. scale — size or range
  10. mark — a trace
  11. fine — all right
  12. dip — to sink
  13. drill — the tool
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — a cup
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. drill — army training
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. mug — a face
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mug — to rob
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. scale — in music

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