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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. staff — employees
  3. perch — the fish
  4. suit — clothes
  5. suit — to fit
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. lean — thin
  8. track — a song
  9. lean — to bend
  10. track — to keep track
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. staff — employees
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. suit — in cards
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. staff — a stick
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. track — a path
  24. deal — to handle

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