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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: dip · wound · suit · safe · perch · rock · mine · stem

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. perch — the fish
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. suit — clothes
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. suit — in cards
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. suit — to fit
  14. wound — an injury
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rock — music
  17. wound — an injury
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rock — a stone
  20. stem — to come from
  21. dip — to sink
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mine — for digging

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