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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: stand · perch · staff · racket · lean · squash · ball · can

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. stand — to bear
  3. ball — a great time
  4. can — a tin
  5. perch — the fish
  6. ball — a dance
  7. squash — the sport
  8. can — to be able to
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. lean — to bend
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. lean — thin
  13. staff — employees
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. can — a tin
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. staff — employees
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. squash — to crush

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