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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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. ball — a great time
  3. perch — the fish
  4. cue — a signal
  5. press — a publisher
  6. press — newspapers
  7. object — to protest
  8. mug — a cup
  9. cue — for pool
  10. ball — a dance
  11. object — an aim
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mug — a face
  14. press — to push
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bank — for money
  17. mug — to rob
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. object — a thing
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. bank — of a river
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. bank — for money

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