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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.

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: ruler · lash · spell · hide · scale · stem · fan · ground

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. scale — in music
  5. spell — a short time
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. stem — to come from
  9. ground — crushed
  10. ground — a position
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. spell — magic
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. spell — letters
  18. scale — size or range
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. ground — the earth
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. ruler — a monarch

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