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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: toast · bank · game · mug · leaves · craft · perch · deal

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. game — a match
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. game — wild animals
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. toast — bread
  9. craft — a skill
  10. mug — a face
  11. bank — of a river
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. perch — the fish
  14. bank — for money
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bank — for money
  17. craft — boats
  18. mug — a cup
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. deal — to handle
  24. deal — a big deal

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