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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — a stick
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mate — to breed
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. saw — the tool
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. content — happy
  18. staff — employees
  19. mate — a partner
  20. pass — a permit
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. mate — a friend
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. perch — the fish

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