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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: bass · file · march · key · calf · spell · ruler · face

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  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. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. spell — a short time
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. face — to confront
  8. key — in music
  9. file — a document
  10. march — the month
  11. bass — the fish
  12. file — a tool
  13. face — part of the head
  14. key — for a lock
  15. spell — magic
  16. file — a line of people
  17. march — the month
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. spell — letters
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. face — to point toward
  22. march — music
  23. bass — low music
  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