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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.

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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: hand · perch · mug · tube · bear · can · deal · bowl

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. tube — a container
  6. hand — help
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. bear — the animal
  9. perch — the fish
  10. bear — the animal
  11. hand — in cards
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. mug — a face
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. tube — the underground
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. mug — to rob
  24. deal — an agreement

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