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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.

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: season · wake · mark · current · bear · bay · perch · safe

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. current — of water
  7. season — of the year
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bear — the animal
  10. season — in sport
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. perch — the fish
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bear — the animal
  18. wake — a trail
  19. current — electric
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. current — happening now
  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