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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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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: stand · perch · key · race · march · bulb · ruler · shower

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. perch — the fish
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. stand — to bear
  5. march — the month
  6. shower — rain
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. key — the most important part
  9. march — the month
  10. key — for a lock
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bulb — for light
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. shower — to wash
  16. march — music
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. key — in music
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. race — a contest
  21. bulb — for light
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. race — humankind
  24. ruler — for measuring

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