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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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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: chest · pass · perch · ruler · bulb · nail · rock · drill

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. rock — a stone
  4. chest — of your body
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bulb — for light
  7. rock — music
  8. drill — army training
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bulb — for light
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. chest — a box
  16. drill — the tool
  17. drill — a practice
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. perch — the fish
  21. pass — a permit
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. chest — of your body
  24. ruler — for measuring

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