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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: mouse · suit · bass · trunk · perch · ball · swing · stand

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. swing — in golf
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. suit — to fit
  8. perch — the fish
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bass — low music
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. suit — clothes
  16. swing — to play on
  17. ball — a dance
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. suit — in cards
  22. stand — to bear
  23. swing — music
  24. bass — the fish

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