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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: perch · rock · pitcher · sharp · ruler · net · lash · bass

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. net — after costs
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. bass — the fish
  7. net — for catching
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bass — low music
  13. rock — music
  14. sharp — clever
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. net — in sport
  21. perch — the fish
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rock — to move gently

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