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

Word bank: spring · hand · saw · season · key · mug · perch · can

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. can — a tin
  3. hand — help
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. mug — to rob
  6. key — the most important part
  7. saw — the tool
  8. spring — of water
  9. mug — a cup
  10. can — a tin
  11. key — for a lock
  12. season — in sport
  13. key — in music
  14. spring — the season
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. spring — a coil
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. season — of the year
  21. perch — the fish
  22. can — to be able to
  23. mug — a face
  24. saw — the tool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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