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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.

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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: toast · ruler · snap · bowl · spell · stick · bulb · perch

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. spell — a short time
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. snap — to click
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. perch — the fish
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. toast — bread
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. spell — letters
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. bulb — for light
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. spell — magic

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