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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: mine · club · saw · can · pass · perch · racket · rash

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. mine — for digging
  10. can — a tin
  11. perch — the fish
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. rash — a series
  16. saw — the tool
  17. rash — hasty
  18. club — for golf
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. club — a group
  21. can — a tin
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. can — to be able to
  24. club — for dancing

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