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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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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. drill — army training
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. pop — music
  5. drill — the tool
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. fine — high quality
  9. pop — soda
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. cap — of ice
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. charge — in control
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. fine — all right
  16. perch — the fish
  17. cap — a lid
  18. pop — to visit
  19. charge — electricity
  20. bear — the animal
  21. drill — a practice
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. cap — a hat
  24. charge — a price

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