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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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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 · mine · board · court · can · current · perch · jam

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. can — a tin
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. can — a tin
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. current — of water
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. perch — the fish
  10. court — for sport
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. court — of law
  13. can — to be able to
  14. current — happening now
  15. court — of a king
  16. board — a committee
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. current — electric
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. board — to get on
  24. mine — for digging

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