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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: racket · nail · jam · bound · bulb · toast · perch · roll

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. bulb — for light
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. roll — a list
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bound — obliged
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bound — certain
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. roll — a cake
  21. toast — bread
  22. perch — the fish
  23. bulb — for light
  24. jam — a tight spot

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