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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.

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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 · cue · lash · fine · nail · press · can · saw

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. press — a publisher
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. cue — for pool
  9. can — to be able to
  10. perch — the fish
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. cue — a hint
  13. press — to push
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. press — newspapers
  17. saw — the tool
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. fine — all right
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. fine — high quality
  24. cue — a signal

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