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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: bowl · cabinet · perch · mug · press · lean · bound · stick

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bound — certain
  4. press — newspapers
  5. mug — a face
  6. lean — thin
  7. perch — the fish
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bound — obliged
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. mug — a cup
  13. press — to push
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. press — a publisher
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mug — to rob
  24. lean — to bend

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