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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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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: bay · perch · ruler · bark · safe · scale · cap · rest

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. rest — what's left
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. scale — in music
  6. scale — size or range
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. bark — to shout
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. perch — the fish
  12. cap — a hat
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rest — what's left
  15. cap — of ice
  16. rest — a break
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. cap — a lid
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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