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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: perch · stem · can · bound · sharp · mug · coach · saw

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. perch — the fish
  5. saw — the tool
  6. can — a tin
  7. mug — to rob
  8. bound — obliged
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. mug — a cup
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bound — certain
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. can — a tin
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. stem — to come from
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. sharp — clever
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. mug — a face
  24. can — to be able to

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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