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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: perch · mug · dip · saw · tube · leaves · ruler · bass

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bass — the fish
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. dip — to sink
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a face
  9. mug — a cup
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. perch — the fish
  13. saw — the tool
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. tube — a container
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bass — low music
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. tube — the underground
  24. dip — a sauce

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