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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: jam · dip · bound · tube · wound · mouse · perch · can

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. wound — an injury
  7. can — to be able to
  8. perch — the fish
  9. bound — tied together
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. tube — the underground
  13. bound — certain
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. can — a tin
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. wound — an injury
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. bound — obliged
  22. dip — to sink
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. can — a tin

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