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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: fan · perch · deal · leaves · chair · plane · row · toast

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. perch — the fish
  4. toast — bread
  5. row — to paddle
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. chair — a leader
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. plane — a tool
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. deal — to handle
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. row — a line
  24. deal — a big deal

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