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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.

Make a worksheet

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: ball · perch · wound · safe · pit · lean · current · leaves

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  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. pit — in a race
  2. current — of water
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. wound — an injury
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. perch — the fish
  11. ball — a dance
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. current — electric
  14. wound — an injury
  15. current — happening now
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. ball — a great time
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. lean — to bend
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. pit — a hole
  23. lean — thin
  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