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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 120 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: staff · sharp · rock · perch · mouse · deal · mug · bark

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. perch — the fish
  3. mug — a face
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. staff — employees
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. bark — to shout
  10. staff — employees
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. mug — to rob
  14. sharp — clever
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. staff — a stick
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. deal — to handle
  19. rock — music
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rock — a stone
  24. perch — for a bird

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