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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: squash · key · perch · mate · cap · bowl · mouse · trunk

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. cap — a hat
  3. mate — a friend
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. squash — the sport
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mate — a partner
  9. key — for a lock
  10. perch — the fish
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. key — in music
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. cap — of ice
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. squash — to crush
  19. key — the most important part
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. mate — to breed
  24. cap — a lid

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