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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: branch · row · perch · rock · bulb · cabinet · pitcher · ball

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  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. ball — a round shape
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. bulb — for light
  5. perch — the fish
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rock — a stone
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. row — a line
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a great time
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. rock — music
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. branch — a division
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. row — to paddle
  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