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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 116 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: prune · bowl · lash · rush · ruler · perch · racket · cell

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. prune — to trim
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. perch — the fish
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. prune — to trim
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. cell — in biology
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — hurry
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. cell — a phone

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