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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: press · scale · cabinet · perch · bulb · track · can · present

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. can — to be able to
  3. track — to keep track
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. track — a song
  6. perch — the fish
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. bulb — for light
  11. present — a gift
  12. can — a tin
  13. present — there
  14. track — a path
  15. scale — size or range
  16. press — a publisher
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. present — the time now
  19. bulb — for light
  20. press — newspapers
  21. scale — in music
  22. can — a tin
  23. press — to push
  24. cabinet — ministers

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