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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. wake — a trail
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. court — of law
  8. perch — the fish
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. court — of a king
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. court — for sport
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. present — a gift
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. branch — a division
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — a permit
  24. present — there

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