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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.

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: perch · present · chip · leaves · spring · can · cabinet · net

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. spring — a coil
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. present — there
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. spring — the season
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. spring — of water
  12. net — after costs
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. present — a gift
  15. net — in sport
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. can — to be able to
  18. chip — to eat
  19. perch — the fish
  20. present — the time now
  21. net — for catching
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. can — a tin
  24. chip — for betting

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