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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: perch · date · rash · leaves · fork · safe · current · swing

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. rash — hasty
  3. date — the fruit
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. current — electric
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. current — happening now
  9. swing — in golf
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. fork — in a road
  15. perch — the fish
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. swing — to play on
  18. rash — a series
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. current — of water
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. swing — music
  24. safe — a strongbox

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