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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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: perch · straw · hide · face · safe · cabinet · mine · jam

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. perch — the fish
  5. face — to point toward
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. mine — for digging
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. face — to confront
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. mine — an explosive

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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