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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: stand · ball · perch · plane · stick · leaves · bowl · sharp

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. plane — a tool
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. perch — the fish
  6. ball — a dance
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. sharp — clever
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. stand — to bear
  17. ball — a great time
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. stand — for spectators

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