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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
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: hide · content · saw · straw · fan · bear · perch · pass

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. bear — the animal
  4. content — the amount
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. saw — the tool
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. content — happy
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. perch — the fish
  24. hide — animal skin

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