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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. bear — the animal
  10. wax — to grow
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. bore — to drill
  13. bear — the animal
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. mug — a cup
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. perch — the fish
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. mug — to rob
  23. mug — a face
  24. bear — to put up with

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