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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 people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. mug — a cup
  3. pop — soda
  4. mug — to rob
  5. game — wild animals
  6. can — a tin
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. rock — a stone
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. pop — music
  15. mug — a face
  16. can — a tin
  17. perch — the fish
  18. can — to be able to
  19. game — a match
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rock — music
  23. pop — to visit
  24. ruler — for measuring

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