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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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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 · bay · bear · vault · saw · pitcher · bore · key

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bear — the animal
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. key — in music
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. saw — the tool
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. key — for a lock
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. vault — a safe
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bear — the animal
  23. key — the most important part
  24. bore — to tire

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