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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 116 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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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: squash · mark · staff · pop · cabinet · fan · perch · ruler

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pop — to visit
  4. squash — the sport
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. squash — to crush
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. pop — soda
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. staff — employees
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. perch — the fish
  14. staff — employees
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pop — music
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. staff — a stick
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a trace
  24. ruler — a monarch

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