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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
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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 · press · saw · board · coach · foot · cue · patient

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. board — to get on
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. cue — a hint
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. saw — the tool
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. foot — a measure
  13. press — to push
  14. cue — for pool
  15. press — newspapers
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. press — a publisher
  18. perch — the fish
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. board — a committee
  22. saw — the tool
  23. cue — a signal
  24. coach — a trainer

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