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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. bank — for money
  3. court — of law
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. bank — for money
  6. can — a tin
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. court — for sport
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. can — a tin
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — clothes
  13. perch — the fish
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bank — of a river
  16. ball — a dance
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. ground — the earth
  19. can — to be able to
  20. plane — a tool
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. ground — crushed
  23. ball — a great time
  24. ground — a position

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