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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 120 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: perch · season · bore · wave · last · can · pass · cabinet

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. can — to be able to
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. bore — to tire
  8. perch — the fish
  9. can — a tin
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. pass — a permit
  15. last — finally
  16. bore — to drill
  17. season — of the year
  18. season — in sport
  19. last — final
  20. can — a tin
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. last — to go on

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