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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: leaves · game · hide · track · perch · staff · current · mug

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. track — a path
  4. game — wild animals
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — the fish
  8. mug — to rob
  9. current — happening now
  10. game — a match
  11. staff — a stick
  12. mug — a face
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. mug — a cup
  17. staff — employees
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. current — electric
  20. staff — employees
  21. track — a song
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. track — to keep track
  24. current — of water

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