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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.

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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.

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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: foot · staff · stand · pound · nail · plane · cabinet · perch

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. staff — a stick
  5. stand — to bear
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. staff — employees
  14. foot — a measure
  15. perch — the fish
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. plane — a tool
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. staff — employees
  21. pound — a weight
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. pound — for dogs

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