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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 · sharp · craft · bound · tube · cue · prune · cabinet

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bound — certain
  4. cue — a hint
  5. craft — boats
  6. tube — the underground
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. bound — tied together
  10. prune — to trim
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. bound — obliged
  14. prune — to trim
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. perch — the fish
  18. cue — a signal
  19. tube — a container
  20. cue — for pool
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. craft — a skill
  24. perch — for a bird

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