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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: bay · hide · perch · leaves · spell · rush · wake · file

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. rush — hurry
  3. perch — the fish
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. wake — a trail
  8. file — a line of people
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. file — a tool
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. spell — a short time
  20. spell — letters
  21. spell — magic
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. wake — before a funeral

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