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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 · lash · mark · bound · scale · calf · pop · rock

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. perch — the fish
  4. rock — a stone
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. bound — obliged
  8. rock — music
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. bound — certain
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. mark — a grade
  13. scale — in music
  14. pop — to visit
  15. mark — a trace
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. pop — soda
  19. bound — tied together
  20. scale — size or range
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rock — to move gently

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