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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 120 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: perch · can · season · scale · rush · drill · kick · branch

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. season — in sport
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. scale — size or range
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. season — of the year
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. drill — the tool
  10. scale — in music
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. rush — hurry
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. branch — a division
  18. can — a tin
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. perch — the fish
  21. drill — a practice
  22. drill — army training
  23. kick — in football
  24. rush — a thrill

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