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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 116 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: fine · perch · trunk · march · net · file · stand · rest

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. fine — all right
  3. net — in sport
  4. march — the month
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. file — a line of people
  8. stand — to bear
  9. net — for catching
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. net — after costs
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. rest — a break
  15. march — the month
  16. march — music
  17. rest — what's left
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. file — a tool
  22. perch — the fish
  23. fine — high quality
  24. rest — what's left

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