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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
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: stick · saw · dip · perch · calf · drill · track · staff

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. staff — a stick
  5. perch — the fish
  6. saw — the tool
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. dip — to sink
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. drill — army training
  12. staff — employees
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. drill — a practice
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. track — a path
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. drill — the tool
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. track — to keep track
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. track — a song

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