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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: board · shower · safe · perch · lie · wound · can · suit

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. suit — in cards
  3. lie — to recline
  4. wound — an injury
  5. board — to get on
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. perch — the fish
  9. wound — an injury
  10. shower — to wash
  11. suit — to fit
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. suit — clothes
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. shower — rain
  24. board — a committee

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