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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: fall · mouse · date · stand · net · fine · perch · can

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. fine — all right
  3. can — a tin
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. can — to be able to
  6. date — the fruit
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. net — after costs
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. fall — the season
  11. can — a tin
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. perch — the fish
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. fall — to drop
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. fall — to drop
  20. stand — to bear
  21. net — for catching
  22. fine — high quality
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. mouse — the animal

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