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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
468
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: cabinet · ball · club · jam · lean · band · wave · perch

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. lean — to bend
  4. perch — the fish
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. lean — thin
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. band — a music group
  12. club — a group
  13. club — for dancing
  14. ball — a great time
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. band — a ring
  23. club — for golf
  24. ball — a dance

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