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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.

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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: spell · court · stand · perch · spring · scale · pass · mouse

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. scale — size or range
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. court — of law
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. spring — of water
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. court — for sport
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. scale — in music
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spring — a coil
  14. spell — letters
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. court — of a king
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. stand — to bear
  20. pass — a permit
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. spell — magic
  24. perch — 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