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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: perch · ruler · mark · bark · saw · pitcher · dip · hide

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bark — to shout
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. perch — the fish
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. dip — to sink
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mark — a trace

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