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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: firm · tube · pitcher · lie · branch · perch · can · fine

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. firm — steady
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. fine — high quality
  7. branch — a division
  8. firm — a company
  9. perch — the fish
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. tube — a container
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. fine — all right
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. tube — the underground
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. can — a tin
  18. firm — decided
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. lie — an untruth

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