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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.

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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: bass · stand · mug · net · leaves · perch · rash · bank

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. stand — to bear
  3. bank — for money
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. perch — the fish
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. mug — a cup
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. mug — a face
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. net — after costs
  12. rash — a series
  13. bank — for money
  14. net — in sport
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. bass — low music
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. net — for catching
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. mug — to rob
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. rash — hasty
  24. bank — of a river

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