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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.

Words on the sheet
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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. perch — the fish
  3. track — a path
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a face
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. ball — a great time
  8. squash — to crush
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. content — happy
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. staff — a stick
  15. ball — a dance
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. staff — employees
  18. track — a song
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. content — the amount
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. staff — employees
  23. track — to keep track
  24. squash — the sport

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