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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: rest · current · spell · perch · pitcher · ruler · lash · dip

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  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. ruler — for measuring
  2. current — electric
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. spell — letters
  6. rest — what's left
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. rest — what's left
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. perch — the fish
  13. rest — a break
  14. dip — to sink
  15. current — of water
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. spell — magic
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. current — happening now
  22. spell — a short time
  23. pitcher — a jug
  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