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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. spring — the season
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. charge — electricity
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. perch — the fish
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. spring — a coil
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. charge — in control
  16. rock — music
  17. wax — to grow
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bore — to tire
  20. mate — a partner
  21. spring — of water
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mate — a friend
  24. charge — a price

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