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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: bay · cabinet · wax · perch · bulb · scale · spell · bank

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. spell — magic
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. scale — size or range
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. bank — for money
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. scale — in music
  13. bank — for money
  14. spell — letters
  15. spell — a short time
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bulb — for light
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — to grow
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bank — of a river

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