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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · fall · lean · bass · roll · prune · ruler · fine

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. fine — high quality
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mark — a grade
  6. prune — to trim
  7. bass — low music
  8. roll — a list
  9. fall — to drop
  10. prune — to trim
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. lean — thin
  15. fine — all right
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. fall — to drop
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. roll — a cake
  20. fall — the season
  21. mark — a trace
  22. bass — the fish
  23. lean — to bend
  24. roll — on a roll

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