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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.

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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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. staff — a stick
  3. saw — the tool
  4. firm — decided
  5. craft — boats
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. saw — the tool
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. craft — a skill
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. perch — the fish
  14. can — a tin
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. can — a tin
  17. firm — steady
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. staff — employees
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. can — to be able to
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. firm — a company

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