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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: hand · stick · staff · pass · toast · perch · deal · cabinet

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. hand — in cards
  3. deal — to handle
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. toast — bread
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. hand — help
  13. pass — a permit
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. perch — the fish
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. staff — employees
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. staff — employees
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. staff — a stick
  24. deal — an agreement

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