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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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  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. perch — for a bird
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. saw — the tool
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. ball — a dance
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. lean — thin
  11. bass — the fish
  12. lean — to bend
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. snap — to click
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. saw — the tool
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bass — low music
  23. ball — a great time
  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