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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.

Make a worksheet

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: fan · bay · perch · jam · leaves · toast · tube · bound

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. tube — a container
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. bound — certain
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. toast — bread
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bound — tied together
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. tube — the underground
  24. perch — the fish

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