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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: mug · suit · perch · fine · stock · saw · game · board

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. game — wild animals
  4. saw — the tool
  5. fine — all right
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. board — a committee
  8. suit — clothes
  9. mug — to rob
  10. suit — in cards
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. stock — shares
  15. fine — high quality
  16. suit — to fit
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. stock — goods
  19. game — a match
  20. mug — a face
  21. mug — a cup
  22. saw — the tool
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. perch — the fish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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