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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
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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: game · board · bark · rock · perch · toast · firm · jam

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. board — a committee
  4. toast — bread
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. rock — music
  9. bark — to shout
  10. perch — the fish
  11. rock — a stone
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. firm — decided
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. firm — a company
  16. board — to get on
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. game — a match
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. game — wild animals
  21. firm — steady
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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