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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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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: lean · rush · cue · ruler · bore · perch · can · track

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. bore — to tire
  3. track — a path
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. cue — for pool
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. track — a song
  10. lean — to bend
  11. lean — thin
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. perch — the fish
  17. track — to keep track
  18. can — a tin
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. cue — a signal
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. cue — a hint
  24. ruler — a monarch

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