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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 116 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: bay · bound · charge · bowl · current · perch · coach · can

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. bound — tied together
  3. charge — a price
  4. charge — in control
  5. current — of water
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. current — electric
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. charge — electricity
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. can — a tin
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. can — to be able to
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. can — a tin
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — certain
  23. current — happening now
  24. perch — the fish

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