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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.

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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: racket · tube · can · pitcher · ruler · hand · perch · current

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. tube — the underground
  4. can — a tin
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. hand — help
  7. can — a tin
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. hand — in cards
  10. perch — the fish
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. tube — a container
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. current — electric
  16. can — to be able to
  17. current — of water
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. current — happening now
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. perch — for a bird

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