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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.

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: snap · perch · cabinet · wind · rush · bore · coach · can

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. wind — to turn a key
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. perch — the fish
  6. bore — to tire
  7. can — a tin
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. wind — moving air
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wind — moving air
  16. can — a tin
  17. rush — hurry
  18. snap — to click
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. bore — to drill
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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