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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 owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. charge — a price
  5. deal — to handle
  6. charge — electricity
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. net — after costs
  10. net — in sport
  11. perch — the fish
  12. branch — a division
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. charge — in control
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. fine — high quality
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. fine — all right
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. net — for catching
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. stand — to bear

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