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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: bass · temple · board · nail · mug · scale · tube · ruler

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. board — a committee
  3. mug — a face
  4. bass — low music
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. scale — in music
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. scale — size or range
  14. board — to get on
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. tube — a container
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. tube — the underground
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. bass — the fish
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a cup

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