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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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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: plane · bore · pop · court · perch · mouse · racket · ruler

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. court — of law
  9. pop — soda
  10. court — for sport
  11. bore — to drill
  12. pop — to visit
  13. pop — music
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. court — of a king
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. bore — to tire
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. perch — the fish

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