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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 120 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: bound · rush · perch · bay · root · board · lean · row

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. row — a line
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. root — of a plant
  5. lean — thin
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. board — a committee
  11. bound — certain
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. rush — hurry
  14. board — to get on
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. perch — the fish
  17. lean — to bend
  18. bound — obliged
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. root — the cause
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. root — of a word
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. row — to paddle

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