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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.

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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: pass · stock · mate · leaves · chip · fall · firm · perch

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. mate — to breed
  3. fall — to drop
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. chip — to eat
  11. mate — a friend
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. firm — a company
  14. stock — goods
  15. mate — a partner
  16. fall — to drop
  17. chip — for betting
  18. pass — a permit
  19. stock — shares
  20. perch — the fish
  21. firm — decided
  22. fall — the season
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. firm — steady

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