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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.

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: object · lie · sharp · track · mouse · perch · fan · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. perch — the fish
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. lie — to recline
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. track — a path
  10. object — a thing
  11. can — a tin
  12. object — to protest
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. sharp — clever
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. track — a song
  22. can — to be able to
  23. object — an aim
  24. track — to keep track

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