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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: mouse · firm · perch · game · can · pitcher · nail · press

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. perch — the fish
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. can — a tin
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. press — newspapers
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. can — a tin
  11. press — to push
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. press — a publisher
  15. firm — decided
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. firm — a company
  18. firm — steady
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. game — wild animals
  24. game — a match

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