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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.

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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: press · nail · staff · perch · mug · roll · jam · hide

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. roll — a list
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. staff — a stick
  8. mug — a cup
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. press — newspapers
  12. mug — to rob
  13. staff — employees
  14. mug — a face
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. staff — employees
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. press — a publisher
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. perch — the fish
  23. press — to push
  24. roll — a cake

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