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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. rock — music
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. chip — to eat
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. prune — to trim
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. perch — the fish
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. mark — a trace
  19. rock — a stone
  20. prune — to trim
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. sharp — clever
  24. mark — a grade

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