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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: arm · perch · bulb · can · cabinet · lie · prune · rush

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. can — a tin
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — to recline
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bulb — for light
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. prune — to trim
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. can — a tin
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. prune — to trim
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. can — to be able to
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. rush — hurry
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. perch — the fish

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