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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
468
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: object · foot · last · perch · pitcher · snap · patient · rash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. object — an aim
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. last — finally
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. last — to go on
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. snap — to click
  11. rash — hasty
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. object — to protest
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. perch — the fish
  16. foot — a measure
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. object — a thing
  20. patient — calm and waiting
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. last — final

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