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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.

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
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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 · mug · lie · court · roll · jam · rest · saw

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. rest — what's left
  3. mug — a cup
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. rest — what's left
  6. saw — the tool
  7. court — for sport
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. court — of a king
  10. perch — the fish
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. court — of law
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a face
  16. roll — a cake
  17. rest — a break
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. roll — a list
  22. lie — to recline
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. saw — the tool

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