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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.

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: perch · tube · spell · staff · racket · mark · leaves · mouse

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. perch — the fish
  5. tube — a container
  6. mark — a grade
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. spell — a short time
  10. spell — magic
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. spell — letters
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mark — a trace
  16. tube — the underground
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. staff — employees
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. staff — a stick
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. racket — a loud noise

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