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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.

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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: field · track · nail · mug · ruler · capital · can · scale

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. track — a song
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. can — a tin
  7. capital — a city
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. field — a subject
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. field — for sport
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. scale — size or range
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a cup
  18. track — to keep track
  19. capital — money
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. scale — in music
  22. track — a path
  23. field — farmland
  24. mug — a face

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