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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: suit · lash · perch · mine · safe · hide · ground · saw

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. saw — the tool
  4. perch — the fish
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. ground — crushed
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. ground — a position
  9. suit — clothes
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. ground — the earth
  13. suit — to fit
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. mine — for digging
  21. saw — the tool
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. suit — in cards

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