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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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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: suit · perch · safe · nail · pass · bay · arm · cold

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The water is too ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pass — a permit
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cold — the Cold War
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. suit — to fit
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. cold — an illness
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. suit — in cards
  20. cold — not warm
  21. perch — the fish
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. pass — to spend time

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