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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: bulb · bore · foot · content · leaves · perch · ruler · saw

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. saw — the tool
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. content — happy
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. content — the amount
  14. perch — the fish
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bore — to drill
  17. foot — a measure
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. saw — the tool
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bore — to tire
  24. content — videos and posts

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