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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 birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. spell — magic
  3. spell — letters
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bound — obliged
  8. bound — tied together
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. can — a tin
  11. spell — a short time
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. can — a tin
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. kid — child
  17. bound — certain
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. can — to be able to
  21. stand — to bear
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. kid — to tease

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