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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
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: hand · key · coach · content · leaves · mark · perch · chip

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. key — the most important part
  4. hand — help
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. chip — for betting
  8. chip — to eat
  9. mark — a trace
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. mark — a grade
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. perch — the fish
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. content — the amount
  19. key — in music
  20. content — happy
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. key — for a lock
  24. hand — in cards

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