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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: perch · mug · file · net · nail · jam · prune · bowl

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. mug — a face
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. prune — to trim
  8. perch — the fish
  9. file — a tool
  10. net — for catching
  11. file — a line of people
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. net — in sport
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. mug — to rob
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. net — after costs
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. prune — to trim
  24. file — a document

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