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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: net · perch · hide · season · fine · firm · board · mug

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. firm — decided
  4. net — for catching
  5. net — after costs
  6. mug — to rob
  7. board — to get on
  8. perch — the fish
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. firm — a company
  12. firm — steady
  13. board — a committee
  14. fine — high quality
  15. mug — a face
  16. season — in sport
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. season — of the year
  19. fine — all right
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. net — in sport
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. mug — a cup

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