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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 band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. tube — a container
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. tube — the underground
  8. perch — the fish
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. march — the month
  11. season — in sport
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. rest — what's left
  14. march — the month
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. rest — a break
  17. bank — of a river
  18. rest — what's left
  19. bank — for money
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. chair — a leader
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bank — for money
  24. season — of the year

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