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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: rock · can · rest · perch · jam · ruler · sharp · spring

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. spring — of water
  7. spring — a coil
  8. rest — what's left
  9. sharp — clever
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rest — what's left
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rock — a stone
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. can — a tin
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. perch — the fish
  22. rock — music
  23. rest — a break
  24. spring — the season

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