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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. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. can — a tin
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. can — to be able to
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. rest — what's left
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. rest — a break
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. rest — what's left
  20. can — a tin
  21. pass — a permit
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. perch — the fish
  24. ruler — a monarch

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