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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 124 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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. mark — a grade
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. bass — the fish
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. staff — employees
  7. row — to paddle
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bass — low music
  11. row — a line
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. branch — a division
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. can — a tin
  17. staff — a stick
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. can — a tin
  20. stand — to bear
  21. can — to be able to
  22. staff — employees
  23. mark — a trace
  24. stand — on your feet

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