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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. net — in sport
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. net — for catching
  5. perch — the fish
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. sharp — clever
  9. staff — employees
  10. staff — employees
  11. net — after costs
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. staff — a stick
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. branch — a division
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. can — to be able to
  24. saw — the tool

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