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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: fine · ground · scale · vault · roll · ruler · saw · lash

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. roll — a list
  4. fine — all right
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. ground — crushed
  7. fine — high quality
  8. roll — a cake
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ground — a position
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. scale — in music
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. scale — size or range
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ground — the earth
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. vault — a safe
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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