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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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468
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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  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. ruler — for measuring
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. perch — the fish
  4. staff — employees
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. tube — the underground
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. tube — a container
  12. spell — a short time
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. snap — to click
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. staff — a stick
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bear — the animal
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. spell — magic
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. spell — letters
  23. staff — employees
  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