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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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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: suit · mark · object · racket · bulb · lie · perch · pass

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bulb — for light
  6. mark — a trace
  7. suit — clothes
  8. object — a thing
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. suit — to fit
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. object — to protest
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. bulb — for light
  19. lie — to recline
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mark — a grade
  22. object — an aim
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. suit — in cards

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