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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: mark · field · deal · fine · ruler · plane · file · scale

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. fine — all right
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. file — a document
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. field — a subject
  9. mark — a grade
  10. field — for sport
  11. file — a tool
  12. scale — in music
  13. file — a line of people
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. plane — a tool
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. scale — size or range
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. deal — to handle
  21. fine — high quality
  22. field — farmland
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. mark — a trace

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