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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.

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: mug · lie · spell · bulb · present · perch · content · rush

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. perch — the fish
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. present — a gift
  9. lie — to recline
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. present — there
  12. spell — a short time
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. mug — to rob
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. bulb — for light
  18. content — the amount
  19. bulb — for light
  20. mug — a cup
  21. spell — magic
  22. spell — letters
  23. content — happy
  24. mug — a face

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