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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 116 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 chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rule — government
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. fine — all right
  7. rock — a stone
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. rock — music
  13. mate — to breed
  14. spell — letters
  15. spell — a short time
  16. mate — a partner
  17. rule — a law
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fine — high quality
  22. mate — a friend
  23. perch — the fish
  24. spell — magic

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