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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: mug · bound · rest · toast · pass · spring · can · perch

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. pass — a permit
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mug — a face
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. perch — the fish
  7. spring — of water
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. rest — a break
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. mug — to rob
  13. rest — what's left
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. spring — a coil
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. spring — the season
  20. bound — obliged
  21. toast — bread
  22. rest — what's left
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bound — certain

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