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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
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: mine · pass · perch · swing · bound · squash · pitcher · safe

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  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. squash — the vegetable
  2. perch — the fish
  3. swing — to play on
  4. bound — certain
  5. bound — tied together
  6. swing — music
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. squash — to crush
  9. bound — obliged
  10. swing — in golf
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pass — a permit
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. squash — the sport
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. mine — for digging
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pass — to succeed
  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