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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. pass — a permit
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. sharp — clever
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. saw — the tool
  13. deal — to handle
  14. saw — the tool
  15. suit — clothes
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. march — the month
  19. march — the month
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. branch — a division
  22. march — music
  23. suit — in cards
  24. suit — to fit

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