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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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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: club · coach · squash · perch · saw · leaves · season · rock

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. club — for dancing
  5. squash — the sport
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. saw — the tool
  9. rock — a stone
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. saw — the tool
  16. season — of the year
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. club — a group
  19. season — in sport
  20. squash — to crush
  21. club — for golf
  22. rock — music
  23. perch — the fish
  24. coach — a trainer

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