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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.

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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. season — in sport
  3. can — a tin
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. foot — a measure
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. object — a thing
  10. season — of the year
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. can — to be able to
  15. perch — the fish
  16. date — the fruit
  17. bass — the fish
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. bass — low music
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. object — an aim
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. object — to protest

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