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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 120 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
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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: safe · present · fan · cap · perch · board · bass · can

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. present — there
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. cap — a lid
  10. board — to get on
  11. bass — low music
  12. can — to be able to
  13. present — a gift
  14. cap — a hat
  15. perch — the fish
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. cap — of ice
  18. bass — the fish
  19. can — a tin
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. can — a tin
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. present — the time now
  24. board — a flat piece

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