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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: lean · mug · perch · rush · arm · scale · bore · safe

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bore — to tire
  7. mug — a face
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bore — to drill
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. lean — to bend
  18. scale — in music
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. mug — to rob
  21. scale — size or range
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. lean — thin
  24. perch — the fish

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