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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: deal · lie · leaves · perch · bark · board · can · bore

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bark — to shout
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. board — a committee
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. can — a tin
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. lie — to recline
  12. deal — to handle
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bore — to tire
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. can — a tin
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. can — to be able to
  22. perch — the fish
  23. board — to get on
  24. bore — to drill

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