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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: bank · bay · perch · staff · tube · cabinet · rash · mate

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. staff — a stick
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. tube — the underground
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. staff — employees
  9. rash — hasty
  10. mate — to breed
  11. perch — the fish
  12. mate — a partner
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — for money
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. tube — a container
  20. bank — of a river
  21. mate — a friend
  22. staff — employees
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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