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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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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: rock · spell · key · stand · bore · perch · game · board

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bore — to drill
  5. rock — a stone
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. spell — letters
  8. spell — magic
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. rock — music
  12. game — a match
  13. key — in music
  14. spell — a short time
  15. stand — to bear
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. key — for a lock
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. bore — to tire
  21. board — to get on
  22. game — wild animals
  23. board — a committee
  24. key — the most important part

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