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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 120 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: drill · dip · foot · perch · hide · bass · rock · saw

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. foot — a measure
  7. rock — music
  8. drill — army training
  9. saw — the tool
  10. dip — to sink
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. bass — the fish
  16. bass — low music
  17. rock — a stone
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. drill — the tool
  20. drill — a practice
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. perch — the fish
  24. dip — to dunk

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