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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 116 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: mark · march · can · hide · saw · bass · ruler · fine

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. can — a tin
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. march — music
  5. march — the month
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. saw — the tool
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. saw — the tool
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. mark — a trace
  13. bass — low music
  14. fine — high quality
  15. bass — the fish
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. can — a tin
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mark — a grade
  21. fine — all right
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. can — to be able to
  24. hide — animal skin

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