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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: degree · key · coach · roll · board · leaves · firm · perch

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. key — in music
  3. roll — a cake
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. degree — an amount
  7. board — a committee
  8. perch — the fish
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. firm — a company
  11. degree — temperature
  12. board — to get on
  13. firm — steady
  14. degree — from a university
  15. firm — decided
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. key — for a lock
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. key — the most important part

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