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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 116 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: branch · coach · mug · mouse · bowl · rush · bass · perch

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mug — a cup
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. branch — a division
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. perch — the fish
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. mug — a face
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bass — 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