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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: mouse · fall · perch · nail · ruler · bay · rock · chip

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. chip — to eat
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. rock — music
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. fall — to drop
  12. chip — for betting
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. rock — a stone
  21. perch — the fish
  22. fall — the season
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. fall — to drop

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