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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
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: spell · scale · ruler · can · hide · pitcher · track · bat

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. can — a tin
  3. spell — magic
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. spell — a short time
  9. track — to keep track
  10. bat — the animal
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. scale — in music
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. spell — letters
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. track — a song
  24. scale — size or range

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