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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: saw · content · land · perch · hide · cabinet · jam · sharp

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. saw — the tool
  8. content — the amount
  9. land — to come down
  10. content — happy
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. saw — the tool
  14. land — a country
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. sharp — clever
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. land — ground
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. perch — the fish

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