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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  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. mate — to breed
  2. bank — for money
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. chip — for betting
  5. mate — a partner
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bank — for money
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. chip — to eat
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. pass — a permit
  15. mate — a friend
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bank — of a river
  19. fork — in a road
  20. perch — the fish
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. bulb — for light
  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