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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: toast · squash · date · mouse · perch · bay · bound · staff

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bound — certain
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bound — obliged
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — a stick
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. date — the fruit
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. toast — bread
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. staff — employees
  19. squash — to crush
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. squash — the sport
  22. perch — the fish
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. bay — a horse colour

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