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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: tube · suit · season · bound · lash · cabinet · perch · mouse

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. tube — the underground
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. season — in sport
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. suit — clothes
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bound — certain
  12. suit — to fit
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. suit — in cards
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — tied together
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. perch — the fish
  21. season — of the year
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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