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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: cabinet · ruler · toast · perch · bound · squash · suit · content

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. squash — to crush
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. suit — to fit
  9. content — the amount
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bound — tied together
  12. perch — the fish
  13. toast — bread
  14. content — happy
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. squash — the sport
  19. bound — obliged
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. suit — in cards
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. suit — clothes

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