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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 · can · current · pass · lean · foot · spell · pound

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. can — a tin
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. perch — the fish
  6. can — to be able to
  7. pound — a weight
  8. spell — letters
  9. current — of water
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. spell — magic
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. current — electric
  14. pass — a permit
  15. foot — a measure
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. current — happening now
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. lean — thin
  21. can — a tin
  22. spell — a short time
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. pound — for dogs

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