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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. ball — a dance
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. perch — the fish
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. mine — for digging
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pass — a permit
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. field — for sport
  20. ball — a great time
  21. field — farmland
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. field — a subject
  24. pass — to spend time

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