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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 116 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: leaves · bay · perch · mug · track · season · mouse · tube

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mug — a face
  4. track — a song
  5. perch — the fish
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mug — to rob
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. tube — a container
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. season — of the year
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. track — a path
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. season — in sport
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. track — to keep track
  24. mouse — the animal

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