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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: lie · lash · current · perch · scale · bulb · face · bound

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. face — to point toward
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. perch — the fish
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bound — obliged
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. lie — to recline
  9. scale — in music
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. bound — certain
  13. face — to confront
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bulb — for light
  16. current — of water
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. scale — size or range
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. current — electric
  21. face — part of the head
  22. bulb — for light
  23. current — happening now
  24. lie — an untruth

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