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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mate — a friend
  7. squash — to crush
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. roll — a cake
  11. spell — a short time
  12. spell — letters
  13. squash — the sport
  14. mate — a partner
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. mate — to breed
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. perch — the fish
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. roll — a list
  23. stand — to bear
  24. spell — magic

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