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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.

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
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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: jam · hand · row · pass · perch · present · mug · mouse

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  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. mouse — the animal
  2. row — a line
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. pass — a permit
  5. perch — the fish
  6. hand — in cards
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. present — there
  10. present — a gift
  11. present — the time now
  12. mug — to rob
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. mug — a face
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. row — to paddle
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mug — a cup
  22. hand — help
  23. pass — to spend time
  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