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

Word bank: row · safe · perch · deal · pop · lash · wake · racket

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. row — to paddle
  6. pop — soda
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. wake — a trail
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. row — a line
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. deal — to handle
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. pop — music
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. pop — to visit

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