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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
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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: rock · rash · bound · toast · bass · plane · lean · perch

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. bass — the fish
  3. rock — a stone
  4. bound — tied together
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bass — low music
  7. bound — certain
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. perch — the fish
  12. toast — bread
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. lean — thin
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. bound — obliged
  19. rock — music
  20. lean — to bend
  21. plane — a tool
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. rash — a series

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