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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 116 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.

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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: squash · rush · bass · content · mug · ruler · saw · fine

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bass — the fish
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mug — a face
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. squash — the sport
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. mug — to rob
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. fine — all right
  12. saw — the tool
  13. rush — hurry
  14. squash — to crush
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. saw — the tool
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. content — the amount
  21. fine — high quality
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. content — happy
  24. bass — low music

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