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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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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: perch · lie · jam · ruler · shower · kid · mug · hide

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. mug — a face
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. lie — to recline
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. kid — child
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. shower — to wash
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. mug — a cup
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. kid — to tease
  19. shower — rain
  20. mug — to rob
  21. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  22. perch — the fish
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. hide — animal skin

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