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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.

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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: lie · can · chest · pass · scale · sharp · bass · ruler

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. lie — to recline
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. chest — of your body
  6. scale — in music
  7. can — a tin
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. pass — a permit
  11. chest — a box
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bass — the fish
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. sharp — clever
  19. bass — low music
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. chest — of your body
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. ruler — a monarch

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