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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: toast · perch · branch · charge · rock · craft · lie · bound

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. lie — to recline
  3. craft — a skill
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. bound — certain
  7. bound — obliged
  8. craft — boats
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. charge — electricity
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. charge — a price
  13. bound — tied together
  14. branch — a division
  15. toast — bread
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. charge — in control
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rock — music
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. rock — a stone

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