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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: pitcher · rock · straw · temple · perch · bore · trunk · bass

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. rock — music
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. bore — to drill
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. rock — a stone
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bass — low music
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bass — the fish
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. perch — the fish
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. bore — to tire
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. straw — dry grass

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