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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: perch · jam · nail · branch · current · bound · cabinet · coach

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. perch — the fish
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. current — happening now
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bound — tied together
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. bound — certain
  11. bound — obliged
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. branch — a division
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. current — of water
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. current — electric

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