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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 120 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: bore · swing · perch · mark · ruler · saw · dip · prune

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  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. mark — a grade
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. mark — a trace
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bore — to drill
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. saw — the tool
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. prune — to trim
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. swing — in golf
  19. prune — to trim
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. perch — the fish
  22. swing — music
  23. swing — to play on
  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