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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: scale · hand · game · ruler · leaves · rock · mark · shower

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. shower — to wash
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. mark — a grade
  7. game — a match
  8. mark — a trace
  9. shower — rain
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. rock — music
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. rock — a stone
  16. scale — size or range
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. scale — in music
  20. hand — in cards
  21. hand — help
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. game — wild animals
  24. leaves — of a tree

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