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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: can · perch · press · suit · bound · tube · ground · bay

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. perch — the fish
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. press — newspapers
  6. can — a tin
  7. tube — the underground
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bound — obliged
  11. press — to push
  12. ground — crushed
  13. suit — clothes
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. can — to be able to
  17. ground — the earth
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bound — certain
  21. ground — a position
  22. can — a tin
  23. suit — in cards
  24. suit — to fit

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