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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: pitcher · vault · game · net · bear · leaves · perch · pass

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bear — the animal
  5. perch — the fish
  6. pass — a permit
  7. net — in sport
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bear — the animal
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. net — after costs
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. game — a match
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. net — for catching
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. vault — a safe
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. game — wild animals

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