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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: current · scale · mark · fine · saw · ruler · land · stock

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  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. land — a country
  2. land — ground
  3. current — happening now
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fine — high quality
  8. current — electric
  9. land — to come down
  10. mark — a trace
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — the tool
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. fine — all right
  15. stock — goods
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. stock — shares
  19. scale — in music
  20. current — of water
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — to pay attention
  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