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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: degree · ball · squash · perch · craft · charge · rock · suit

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. craft — a skill
  3. charge — a price
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. charge — in control
  7. perch — the fish
  8. suit — to fit
  9. charge — electricity
  10. degree — from a university
  11. craft — boats
  12. degree — temperature
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. squash — the sport
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. rock — music
  17. suit — in cards
  18. ball — a great time
  19. suit — clothes
  20. degree — an amount
  21. rock — a stone
  22. squash — to crush
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. squash — the vegetable

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