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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: bowl · bass · nail · ruler · court · mark · foot · rock

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. foot — a measure
  7. bass — the fish
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bass — low music
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. rock — music
  13. mark — a grade
  14. court — for sport
  15. rock — a stone
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. court — of a king
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. ruler — for measuring

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