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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.

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: pitcher · net · rock · game · perch · plane · racket · bulb

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. net — in sport
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. net — for catching
  6. game — a match
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bulb — for light
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. net — after costs
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. rock — a stone
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. plane — a tool
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. game — wild animals
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. rock — music
  24. bulb — of a plant

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