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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
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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: bulb · mouse · mug · perch · staff · fine · club · field

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. fine — all right
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. staff — employees
  8. perch — the fish
  9. field — farmland
  10. club — for dancing
  11. club — a group
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mug — a cup
  15. fine — high quality
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. staff — employees
  18. mug — a face
  19. club — for golf
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bulb — for light
  22. field — for sport
  23. field — a subject
  24. perch — for a bird

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