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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. pitch — completely
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. perch — the fish
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bore — to drill
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bore — to tire
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. current — of water
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. current — electric
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. current — happening now
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. pass — a permit
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. rush — hurry
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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