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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.

Make a worksheet

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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. can — to be able to
  3. can — a tin
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. sharp — clever
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. wind — moving air
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bass — the fish
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. board — a committee
  16. bass — low music
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. wind — moving air
  19. can — a tin
  20. perch — the fish
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. board — to get on

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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