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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
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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: can · perch · rock · tube · ruler · fork · straw · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. tube — a container
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. fork — in a road
  8. tube — the underground
  9. can — a tin
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. can — a tin
  18. rock — music
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. rock — a stone
  21. perch — the fish
  22. can — to be able to
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. fork — a garden tool

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