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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: bowl · scale · press · perch · bound · club · can · wake

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. club — for dancing
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bound — obliged
  6. perch — the fish
  7. can — a tin
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. press — a publisher
  10. press — newspapers
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. scale — in music
  14. bound — tied together
  15. can — a tin
  16. scale — size or range
  17. club — for golf
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bound — certain
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. club — a group
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. press — to push
  24. bowl — a dish

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