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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 120 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: bound · cap · deal · spell · perch · prune · bear · bulb

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. prune — to trim
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bulb — for light
  6. perch — the fish
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. spell — letters
  9. cap — of ice
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bear — the animal
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. cap — a hat
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. spell — magic
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bear — the animal
  18. cap — a lid
  19. spell — a short time
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bound — certain
  22. prune — to trim
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. bulb — of a plant

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