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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
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: rash · perch · spell · saw · lash · bear · ruler · coach

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rash — hasty
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bear — the animal
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. spell — magic
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bear — the animal
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. saw — the tool
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. spell — a short time
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. rash — a series
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. perch — the fish
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. spell — letters

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