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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.

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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
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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: ball · fan · ruler · stick · drill · perch · mark · saw

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. saw — the tool
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. mark — a trace
  7. ball — a great time
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. mark — a grade
  13. saw — the tool
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. perch — the fish
  17. drill — the tool
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. drill — army training
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. drill — a practice

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