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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ruler · perch · lie · bulb · net · fine · game · cue

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. cue — a hint
  4. game — wild animals
  5. net — for catching
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. fine — all right
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fine — high quality
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. cue — a signal
  14. cue — for pool
  15. net — in sport
  16. perch — the fish
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. game — a match
  20. net — after costs
  21. bulb — for light
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. ruler — for measuring

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