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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: safe · swing · perch · can · suit · tear · face · jam

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  5. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  6. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. suit — clothes
  4. tear — from crying
  5. tear — to rip
  6. tear — from crying
  7. suit — in cards
  8. can — a tin
  9. swing — in golf
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. can — to be able to
  12. face — to point toward
  13. can — a tin
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. face — part of the head
  16. face — to confront
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. swing — music
  20. swing — to play on
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. perch — the fish
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. perch — for a bird

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