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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: perch · staff · nail · rock · pound · can · season · key

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. can — to be able to
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. staff — a stick
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. season — in sport
  7. key — for a lock
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. key — in music
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. pound — a weight
  12. rock — a stone
  13. staff — employees
  14. season — of the year
  15. can — a tin
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. perch — the fish
  19. can — a tin
  20. rock — music
  21. staff — employees
  22. key — the most important part
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. rock — to move gently

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