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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.

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: plane · hand · perch · stand · squash · row · leaves · pass

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. row — to paddle
  6. squash — to crush
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. perch — the fish
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. hand — help
  12. plane — a tool
  13. squash — the sport
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. pass — a permit
  16. hand — in cards
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. stand — to bear
  21. row — a line
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. leaves — lets stay

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