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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: trunk · bay · bound · spell · perch · current · pass · cabinet

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. spell — letters
  4. current — of water
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. pass — a permit
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. bound — tied together
  11. spell — magic
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bound — obliged
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. bound — certain
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. current — electric
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. spell — a short time
  24. current — happening now

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