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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.

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: bulb · pitch · can · lean · perch · arm · suit · pound

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  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. bulb — of a plant
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. lean — to bend
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. pitch — completely
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. bulb — for light
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. lean — thin
  17. pound — a weight
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. suit — clothes
  20. suit — to fit
  21. can — a tin
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bulb — for light
  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