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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: land · perch · cabinet · temple · bound · club · lash · stock

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. club — a group
  3. stock — goods
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. land — ground
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. bound — obliged
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. perch — the fish
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. club — for golf
  14. bound — certain
  15. land — to come down
  16. bound — tied together
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. stock — shares
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. club — for dancing
  24. land — a country

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