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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: key · leaves · face · mouse · perch · saw · bowl · stick

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. saw — the tool
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. face — to confront
  8. face — part of the head
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. perch — the fish
  11. key — the most important part
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. key — in music
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. face — to point toward
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. key — for a lock
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. bowl — a football final

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