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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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 · plane · pass · bass · ruler · mine · deal · scale

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. scale — size or range
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. field — a subject
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. field — for sport
  13. bass — the fish
  14. mine — for digging
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. deal — to handle
  17. bass — low music
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. plane — a tool
  23. scale — in music
  24. field — farmland

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