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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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. bank — for money
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. perch — the fish
  6. rule — government
  7. shower — to wash
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. shower — rain
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. bank — for money
  13. bore — to tire
  14. rule — a law
  15. bore — to drill
  16. mug — a face
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. mug — to rob
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fine — high quality
  22. bank — of a river
  23. mug — a cup
  24. fine — all right

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