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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
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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: mug · season · chair · can · toast · content · pop · perch

  1. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a leader
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. pop — soda
  5. content — the amount
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. mug — a face
  9. can — to be able to
  10. mug — a cup
  11. season — of the year
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. mug — to rob
  15. perch — the fish
  16. toast — bread
  17. can — a tin
  18. season — in sport
  19. pop — music
  20. can — a tin
  21. pop — to visit
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. chair — to sit on
  24. content — happy

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