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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 120 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: capital · wound · perch · ball · pit · craft · foot · suit

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. ball — a dance
  6. ball — a great time
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. suit — to fit
  11. capital — a big letter
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. suit — in cards
  15. wound — an injury
  16. foot — a measure
  17. capital — a city
  18. pit — a hole
  19. craft — boats
  20. capital — money
  21. perch — the fish
  22. suit — clothes
  23. craft — a skill
  24. wound — an injury

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