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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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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. board — a committee
  4. plane — a tool
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. mug — to rob
  10. perch — the fish
  11. season — of the year
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. season — in sport
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. board — to get on
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. mug — a face
  22. mug — a cup
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. straw — dry grass

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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