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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: cell · bound · cap · perch · current · bowl · scale · bulb

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. scale — size or range
  3. current — of water
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. cell — a phone
  7. cell — in biology
  8. scale — in music
  9. cap — a lid
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. current — happening now
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. cap — of ice
  17. current — electric
  18. bound — certain
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bound — tied together
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. cap — a hat
  24. bound — obliged

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