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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
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: track · band · chip · ruler · ball · bear · scale · date

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. track — a path
  4. bear — the animal
  5. scale — size or range
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. band — a music group
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ball — a dance
  10. scale — in music
  11. date — the fruit
  12. bear — the animal
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. band — a ring
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. chip — for betting
  19. chip — to eat
  20. ball — a great time
  21. track — to keep track
  22. track — a song
  23. date — on the calendar
  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