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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 120 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: hide · perch · racket · lean · fan · mug · board · bank

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. lean — to bend
  5. board — a committee
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. board — to get on
  9. bank — of a river
  10. mug — a face
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. perch — the fish
  13. lean — thin
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. mug — a cup
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. bank — for money
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bank — for money
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. perch — for a bird

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