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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
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: plane · perch · bound · swing · mouse · track · bay · rash

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. swing — music
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. track — to keep track
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. track — a path
  11. rash — hasty
  12. bound — tied together
  13. perch — the fish
  14. swing — to play on
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bound — obliged
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. rash — a series
  19. track — a song
  20. bound — certain
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. plane — a tool
  24. plane — an aircraft

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