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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
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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: scale · stand · dip · clip · nail · mark · ruler · face

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. clip — for paper
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. scale — in music
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. mark — a trace
  8. face — to confront
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. face — part of the head
  11. dip — to sink
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. mark — a grade
  17. clip — a video
  18. scale — size or range
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. clip — to cut
  23. face — to point toward
  24. nail — for a hammer

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