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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — to sit on
  2. perch — the fish
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. key — for a lock
  6. key — in music
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. can — a tin
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. chair — a leader
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. can — a tin
  18. bass — low music
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. key — the most important part
  21. can — to be able to
  22. mine — for digging
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. bass — the fish

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