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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: pop · suit · perch · stand · bowl · wax · drill · bore

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — to bear
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. drill — a practice
  7. perch — the fish
  8. pop — music
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. drill — army training
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. pop — soda
  14. drill — the tool
  15. wax — to grow
  16. suit — clothes
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. bore — to drill
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. bore — to tire
  22. pop — to visit
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. suit — in cards

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