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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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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: squash · ruler · land · coach · perch · racket · row · bear

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. land — a country
  5. squash — the sport
  6. row — to paddle
  7. land — ground
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. squash — to crush
  11. bear — the animal
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. land — to come down
  15. row — a line
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. bear — the animal
  23. perch — the fish
  24. perch — for a bird

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