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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: squash · cap · net · leaves · board · perch · stand · file

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. net — for catching
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. file — a line of people
  6. board — to get on
  7. stand — to bear
  8. cap — a hat
  9. cap — of ice
  10. net — in sport
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. file — a tool
  16. cap — a lid
  17. squash — to crush
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. squash — the sport
  20. board — a committee
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. perch — the fish
  23. net — after costs
  24. file — a document

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