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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.

Make a worksheet

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
YesNo
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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 · plane · calf · mouse · cue · season · perch · march

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. cue — for pool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. cue — a signal
  5. cue — a hint
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. season — in sport
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. season — of the year
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. march — the month
  18. plane — a tool
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. perch — the fish
  23. march — the month
  24. march — music

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