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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.

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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: perch · rash · dip · staff · cabinet · roll · leaves · deal

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. staff — employees
  3. rash — a series
  4. deal — to handle
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. rash — hasty
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. roll — a cake
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. staff — employees
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. dip — to sink
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. perch — the fish
  20. staff — a stick
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. roll — a list
  24. deal — a big deal

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