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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.

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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 · bank · charge · saw · mark · coach · bore

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. bank — for money
  5. saw — the tool
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bank — of a river
  8. saw — the tool
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bore — to drill
  11. charge — electricity
  12. mark — a trace
  13. staff — employees
  14. charge — in control
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. staff — employees
  18. mark — a grade
  19. bank — for money
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. bore — to tire
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. charge — a price
  24. perch — the fish

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