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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  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. date — on the calendar
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. charge — electricity
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. tube — the underground
  7. date — the fruit
  8. rest — what's left
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. charge — in control
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. rest — what's left
  15. tube — a container
  16. rest — a break
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. charge — a price
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. ruler — for measuring
  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