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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: fan · rash · present · ball · key · perch · ruler · rest

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. rest — a break
  4. present — there
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. rest — what's left
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. rest — what's left
  10. key — the most important part
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. perch — the fish
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. rash — a series
  15. key — in music
  16. present — a gift
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. key — for a lock
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. ball — a great time
  21. rash — hasty
  22. ball — a dance
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. present — the time now

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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