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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. perch — the fish
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. hand — help
  11. wound — an injury
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. hand — in cards
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. vault — a safe
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. wound — an injury
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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