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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 · net · bulb · mark · bound · bowl · can · racket

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. perch — the fish
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. bulb — for light
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. can — a tin
  7. net — in sport
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. can — a tin
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. mark — a trace
  15. net — after costs
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bound — certain
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. bound — tied together
  23. net — for catching
  24. perch — for a bird

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