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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: cabinet · tube · ruler · can · file · perch · bound · drill

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. bound — tied together
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. can — a tin
  8. file — a line of people
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. drill — a practice
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. bound — obliged
  14. drill — army training
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. file — a tool
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bound — certain
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. drill — the tool
  21. perch — the fish
  22. tube — a container
  23. tube — the underground
  24. file — a document

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