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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: nail · trunk · bulb · perch · can · tube · pass · scale

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. can — a tin
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pass — a permit
  5. can — a tin
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. scale — in music
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. tube — a container
  17. tube — the underground
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bulb — for light
  23. perch — the fish
  24. pass — to spend time

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